Did you know that positive workplace drug tests hit a historic high in the United States in 2020?
According to test results compiled by Quest Diagnostics, the percentage of U.S. workers testing positive for various drugs in 2020 hit a 16-year high.
The ongoing pandemic poses significant challenges for companies looking to screen their employees for drug use.
But, it is now more important than ever to continue a drug-testing program.
Here in this post, we will look at the top four drug tests of 2021.
1) NICDetect Oral Cotinine Test
Although it has become routine for employers to discourage or actively restrict smoking in the workplace to promote a smoke-free environment, many organizations are now keen to test workers to determine whether they are active smokers.
As healthcare costs continue to rise, business leaders have begun to understand tobacco’s role in overall healthcare spending.
According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and research findings published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, smoking-related illnesses in the U.S. cost $156 billion in lost productivity and $170 billion in direct medical care.
No wonder many employers are now implementing workplace smoking policies, regardless of whether they are required to do so by federal and local laws.
An oral fluid rapid test, the ‘NICDetect Oral Cotinine Test’ provides test results in less than 10 minutes. A lab test for tobacco-use typically provides test results in 24-48 hours. Since the NICDetect is an oral swab based test, specimen collection or test administration is easy and can be conducted anywhere, anytime. These are the chief reasons why the NICDetect is one of the most popular drug tests of 2021.
With 30 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter) cutoff, the NICDetect helps employers identify habitual (or daily) tobacco users. The test eliminates light-smokers who occasionally smoke a cigar or a cigarette. The cutoff-level also reduces the possibility that a person exposed to secondhand smoke would test positive for Cotinine.
The test detects Cotinine, a metabolite of Nicotine, with outstanding accuracy. The detection window is 1-4 days. Such tests look for Cotinine instead of Nicotine because the former stays in the body for a longer duration. The only reason a person can have Cotinine in their body is if they processed Nicotine.
2) 5-Panel InstaCube Saliva Drug Test
This 5-panel drug test detects popular drugs that are frequently abused in the United States and several other countries. This test fulfills the needs of many medium to large scale organizations looking for a quick, convenient, and cost-effective drug test to screen their employees and potential hires in 2021.
The Five-Panel InstaCube Saliva Drug Test can detect the following drugs in the specimen (saliva):
- Amphetamine
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Opiate
- THC or Marijuana
A sponge applicator is soaked in the saliva until it is fully saturated. The process takes roughly around three to four minutes. Once the sample has been collected and secured into its container, the test results are available within minutes.
Do keep in mind that the laws governing drug testing employees for marijuana-use vary across states and cities. So, any drug test you choose for your random, periodic, or pre-employment drug screening programs should comply with federal and state laws applicable in your area.
Here are the top advantages of Five-Panel InstaCube Saliva Drug Test:
- Accurate test results are available within minutes
- The test involves non-invasive sample collection
- Sample collection is easy and convenient
- Low chance of adulteration
- Ability to photocopy test results
3) Sixteen-Panel PreScreen Plus Mega Cup Drug Test
One of the most popular choices for workplace drug screening programs, the ‘Sixteen-Panel PreScreen Plus Mega Cup (FUO) Drug Test’ can detect a total of 16 commonly abused drugs in one testing.
This test can detect Amphetamines, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Opiates, Ethyl Glucuronide, Barbiturates, Benzodiapines, Buprenorphine, Fentanyl, K2(50) /Synthetic Cannabinoids / K2 / Spice, MDMA500 / Ecstasy, Methadone, Phencyclidine, Marijuana, and Tramadol.
Considered an ideal option for rehab and no tolerance testing, the 16-Panel PreScreen Plus Mega Cup (FUO) Drug Test includes specialty drugs such as Tramadol, ETG, Fentanyl, and K2 Spice.
Across the world, urine screens are the most popular method of drug screening. Urine drug tests are painless, quick, convenient, and cost-effective. Such drug tests can detect both illegal and prescription drugs in a person’s system. A 16-panel urine drug test is sufficient to meet the drug screening needs of most organizations.
Like other alcohol and drug tests, this test also uses cutoff levels. This essentially means that a test result would be positive if the amount of drug detected in a sample is over a certain limit. In a way, cutoffs help prevent false-positive results. This can happen when a worker has not consumed an illegal drug or abused a prescription drug but accidentally ate food containing the legal amount of coca or hemp.
The standard cutoff level for the detection of Methamphetamine in a urine sample, for instance, is 500 – 1000 ng/ml, and the detection window is 2 - 4 days. For the detection of K2 / Spice, on the other hand, the cutoff level is 50 ng/ml, and the detection window is 1 - 3 days.
The ‘16-Panel PreScreen Plus Mega Cup (FUO) Drug Test’ includes a built-in temp strip and provides accurate results in less than five minutes! The test results are claimed to be 99% accurate and remain stable for up to 60 minutes.
4) Hair Follicle Test
The hair follicle drug test involves testing a hair sample of a worker. The sample comprises around 100 - 120 hair strands. The hair sample is obtained from any area on the body, except the scalp region. Specimen collection takes place under direct supervision. There is no invasion of a worker’s privacy.
Compared to other drug testing methods in which urine and saliva samples are analyzed, hair follicle tests are somewhat expensive but offer a longer detection window. The test results are available within a few hours or a day.
Hair follicle drug tests currently available for workplace drug screening can detect even the smallest traces of drugs such as Cocaine, Methamphetamines, Opiates, Marijuana, PCP, etc.
A hair sample cannot be easily adulterated. Many hair follicle tests have extended 90-day detection windows. While urine drug tests can pick up single-use, hair follicle drug tests can help determine if a person has abused an illegal drug several times over a period of time.
