Over the past twenty years, increasing numbers of employers have begun to administer drug tests to current and prospective employees.

The reasons for this are many. They include mechanical safety, trustworthiness with sensitive information, and health, insurance, and liability costs. Some privacy advocates have protested drug testing policies, especially when tests are performed at random rather than due to reasonable suspicion, but employers have found the benefits of both types of drug testing to be substantial.

Some employers have begun conducting their own drug testing on site rather than sending potential employees or randomly selected employees to a clinical laboratory. The benefits of drug testing on site include low cost, more convenience, and high accuracy.

The oral swab method is the most commonly used method in on-site drug testing today. Employers especially like this method because a swab test only costs about $1. This is a huge savings compared to urine, blood, and hair drug testing. In addition, the oral swab testing process is significantly less embarrassing for employees than having them obtain a urine sample. It is also less painful than having blood drawn and faster than having the hair analyzed. In fact, the oral swab method produces results in about ten minutes. It isn’t necessary to wait 24 to 48 hours for results, as is the case with the other methods. With an accuracy rate of about 98 percent, it’s no wonder many employers are using this quick and cost-effective way to screen their staff.

Other employers, however, prefer to continue using urine samples in drug testing. The urine dipstick is one product used for on-site drug testing. After having the urine sample collected in the provided cup, a human resources officer can test the urine for drugs for up to eight hours. The specially designed cups provided will keep the urine at room temperature for several hours, ensuring that the sample stays fresh.

Cost and convenience are the two main reasons for conducting drug tests on site. These reasons may be especially relevant to small businesses with limited resources that want to ensure a drug-free workforce. By eliminating potential drug abusers through cost-effective drug testing methods, employers are finding on-site drug testing to be a pleasant and worthwhile alternative to traditional means.

 

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