InCheck uses a number of excellent tools in its repertoire which help our clients obtain the kind of results they require for onboarding potential employees. Where it concerns pre-employment drug testing there are essentially two distinct types. Clients can obtain results within a 3-business day time frame, or within a single business day. These two types of drug screenings are referred to as a Lab drug screen or a Rapid drug screen. The advantage between them is time. If results are required quickly, then a Rapid test will deliver results much sooner than a Lab only test.
Along with these two distinct tests, we can also accommodate any requirements clients might have for DOT (Department of Transportation) drug testing. This affords our clients the advantage of complying with Federal regulations as it concerns their employees who drive vehicles.
Now, to drill down a little further we also have a selection of tests that can assess for multiple substances across a spectrum, ranging from narcotics to ethyl alcohol in urine. Roughly speaking testing can be extended up to a 10-panel plus expanded opiates urine screening which detects a number of illegal substances employers may have issues with. Among some of these illegal substances are items like THC, Cocaine, and opiate narcotics. Employers can scale their testing needs to perfectly fit them within a specific testing field. The advantage of a wider detection field is simply that it affords a larger picture of any potential problems revolving around illegal drug use. The advantage of scaling back the detection field is cost. Companies that are budget-minded and feel secure in utilizing a 5-panel drug screen have an option that fits their needs.
Hair drug screening is designed to detect illegal substances by the collection and examination of human hair fibers taken from anywhere on the body. This test is costly when compared to urine drug screening. Another downside to hair screening is that a substance will not show up in hair follicles on the same day someone uses while oral fluid may depict use ten minutes after occurring.
What a hair test can offer though, is a longer snapshot of narcotic activity in the human body with results in 3-4 business days. Depending on where on the body a sample is taken, detectability ranges from 30-90 days. This process of examining hair is much more thorough when compared to other tests that might miss results as old as a few weeks. Clients needing this level of scrutiny find the advantages of hair testing to be worth the increased cost.
By contrast, oral fluid testing analyzes a saliva sample for parent drugs and their metabolites. An absorbent collection device is placed in the mouth and the saliva collected is screened for drugs of abuse. Samples are checked to verify the saliva is human and undiluted. Since the detection time frame is ten minutes after use, oral testing makes for a perfect choice in circumstances of reasonable suspicion or post-accident situations.
Although I have only mentioned the detection of illegal substances, these tests can also detect prescription medication and any use without a prescription will be reported as positive. This by no means covers every aspect of the tests we offer, however, it does mark the divide between time and cost. Being mindful of those two important qualities is something InCheck strives to achieve on behalf of its clients!
How can InCheck Help?
Our latest guide, ‘An Employer Guide to Understanding Pre-Employment Drug Screening‘, covers some of the basics of pre-employment drug testing, the common screening methods, and the process that third-party drug screening companies use to manage failed drug tests. Our guide also includes legal considerations for pre-employment drug screening, how to navigate the new laws around marijuana, and some best practices for updating your company’s workplace safety program. Contact us today to learn more about how InCheck can help!