Common Drug Testing Methods

Drug addiction poses a serious threat to healthSpray (Sweat) Drug Testing
and well being of an individual and to entireSpray (Sweat) testing is used to detect drug
society. Drug abuse can destroy lives ofabuse over a period of couple of weeks or more.
youngsters, ruins families, and leads to loss ofIt is used when other methods like urine testing
productivity and efficiency at workplaces.can not detect substance abuse for such longer
Depression, anxiety, seizures, violent behavior, andperiod. It is an effective drug-monitoring method
social problems are some of the fall outs ofas a sweat patch affixed on the person's skin
addiction. There are various testing methods tocollects sweat over past couple of weeks. If the
check drug abuse. These methods test forperson abuses in this period, then the sweat
presence of drugs in urine, saliva, sweat, blood,which contains the metabolites is absorbed by
and hair.these patches. The sweat testing is also
Urine Drug Testingnon-invasive and easy to perform. It provides for
Urine drug testing is an easy, reliable, anda longer window of substance detection. It is also
convenient way to check for presence oftamper proof as it is difficult to paste it again
substances and metabolites. A number of drugs inonce removed. However, sweat testing is prone
any combination can be detected through urineto contamination, and even difference in rates of
testing in accurate way. Urine testing can be easilysweat production in persons can give erroneous
performed in homes, offices, schools, and colleges.test results.
The urine testing can detect the drugs taken inHair Drug Testing
the past 2-7 days. Various onsite urine testing kitsHair drug testing method can provide drug abuse
can test for presence of number of drugs athistory for upto 90 days. In this testing, a small
single time and give quick results. There is alwayssample of hair is analyzed for presence of drug
a risk of adulteration of sample in urine testing.molecules and metabolites which gets deposited in
Hence, sample collection for urine testing shouldhair. The metabolites get deposited in hair as blood
be done under supervision to maintain integrity.containing these molecules constantly nourishes
Saliva Drug Testingthe hair. If the person is completely bald, then hair
Saliva drug testing provides a reasonably accuratestrands can also be collected from other parts of
way to detect presence of substances in the lastbody. There are very less chances of adulterating
few hours. This testing method is non-invasivethe hair sample. Hair testing is accurate and
and provides results for presence of number ofexpensive than other forms of testing as it is
substances at single time. Saliva testing can beperformed in laboratories using advanced analytical
easily performed at homes, workplaces, schools,techniques.
colleges, and other locations. There are very lessVarious testing methods provide only preliminary
chances of adulteration of samples as they areanalytical results. More advanced methods like Gas
taken in front of everyone. Various onsite salivaChromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
testing kits are easy to handle and provide quickneeds to be conducted for confirmation purposes.
results. However, saliva testing has a shortIf person is found to be addicted, then immediate
window of detection and detects substance abusesteps should be taken to refrain the person from
within past 48 hours.using drugs to avoid further harmful complications.