Alcohol Testing in the Workplace: an Employer’s Choice

There are many different types of alcohol testing.blood alcohol test cannot. It is simple and accurate
From the breathalyzer to intensive urine alcoholand requires only a small bit of hair. You might see
testing or hair alcohol testing,  there are manya blood alcohol test being used on a person who is
ways employers can get the information they areintoxicated, like a drunk driver that gets pulled
seeking. Here is a brief overview of severalover. While this may be effective in the moment,
different types of alcohol testing.alcohol is quickly lost in the blood because it
Blood Alcohol Testbreaks down so quickly. In the hair, however, tiny
A blood alcohol test measures the amount oftraces of alcohol metabolite are trapped and save
ethanol in the body. This type of test can bean alcohol history in its roots. Each half inch of
very useful in determining the amount of alcohol inhead hair provides a 30-day history of alcohol use.
the blood when someone is suspected of beingThis can allow employers to examine a
intoxicated; it may be used to find the cause ofperson’s alcohol use over a period of months
an altered mental state. When a situation existsrather than days or even hours.
where alcohol is prohibited, this test may be usedWhether employers continue to simply do a
to determine whether or not the consumption ofbackground check or progress to both drug
alcohol has taken place.testing and alcohol testing, one thing is certain: It
Urine Alcohol Testhas an effect on their bottom line.  While minor
Urine alcohol tests are simply not as accurate asdrug and alcohol use may not seem to impact
other forms of alcohol testing. While a urine testemployers, it starts to take a toll when their
can show the amount of alcohol in the body, itemployees are missing work.  While a short-term
does not show the person’s present condition.effect may just be one missed day of work and
Since it takes several hours for the alcohol toa bad hangover, this may progress to a
pass through the body, the test will not be anweakened immune system, meaning more missed
accurate indication of their present state. Further,work, more doctors visited and increased
this test can vary widely based on a person’shealthcare costs. Healthcare costs are already on
metabolism.  This type of testing is also notthe rise, and employers and already looking for
helpful in the case of an emergency, because itways in which to decrease them. Perhaps in the
takes hours for a lab to test and deliver thefuture they will look toward drug testing and
results.alcohol testing as a solution or at least a step in
Hair Alcohol Testbecoming more drug and alcohol free.
Hair Alcohol Tests can get results that a regular