If drugs are coursing through the veins, it’s hard to deny that a person’s behavior can be adversely affected and their thought process is likely to be impaired. There are times when there is an immediate need to know that information beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Knowing what drugs are in someone’s system can be life saving information during an emergency room situation when a person is unresponsive or incoherent. Following an accident, insurance companies often request drug tests be done on blood drawn at the hospital. Law enforcement will also request blood drug testing in accident situations when impairment could be an issue. When someone fails alcohol field sobriety tests, they are given a blood test to ascertain impairment.
These are some instances when a blood drug test may be used.
Professional sports teams are subjected to blood testing, as are the young athletes that compete in the Olympics, but this method has never been embraced by employers. There use is rare. Blood tests are considered to be very intrusive and the detection window is just a few hours versus other methods.
The hair follicle drug test, for example, has a detection window of 90 days. This test also enables employers to know how often the test subject uses drugs. Both, the hair and blood tests are expensive and this fact plays a large part in an employer’s decision making process when choosing a testing method.
The most widely used method for drug testing in the workplace is the urine test. It is also the method chosen by the DOT (Department of Transportation) for drug testing all employees working safety sensitive jobs.
The urine test is the most cost-effective method and produces highly accurate results. Because it is so widely used, it has become very commonplace; even though it is considered to be intrusive, employees and employee prospects know what to expect upon arrival at the testing facility. The drug detection window varies in length depending on the drug.
Another option, becoming more popular among law enforcement agencies for testing if impairment is suspected during traffic stops, is the mouth swab drug test. It is not nearly as invasive as the urine or blood tests, and determines if the user is impaired at that moment. But employers don’t often choose this method. One reason being the short detection window of only 72 hours prior to the test.
How does the blood test work?
The test must be administered by a medically trained professional and specialized equipment must be used. First, positive identification of the test subject is made and documented. The blood sample is then extracted with a needle from a vein on the inside of the arm; the back of the palm can also be used.
The sample will then be transported to the lab for analysis. The wait time for lab results is about a week. This is considered to be lengthy compared to other testing methods.
What drugs are identified?
5 Panel drug test
- Amphetamine
- Cocaine
- Marijuana (THC)
- Methamphetamine
- PCP/Angel Dust
9 Panel drug test
- Amphetamine
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine
- Methadone
- Marijuana (THC)
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- PCP/Angel Dust
10 Panel drug test
- Amphetamine
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine
- Hydrocodone
- Marijuana (THC)
- Methadone
- Methaqualone
- Methamphetamines
- Opiates
- PCP/Angel Dust
- Propoxyphene
12 Panel drug test
- Amphetamine
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine
- Ecstasy/MDMA
- Hydrocodone
- Marijuana (THC)
- Methadone
- Opiates
- Percocet/Oxycodone
- PCP/Angel Dust
- Propoxyphene
How accurate is a blood drug test?
Blood tests produce extremely accurate results if they are given during the drugs detection window. Unfortunately, this detection window is measured in mere hours and only varies slightly depending on the drug.
There is certainly a place for using blood tests when one must ascertain if someone has drugs in their system at that moment. But, more likely than not, their use will be post accident, during a suspected DUI traffic stop, or delegated by court order for some reason rather than being used for employee drug testing in the workplace.
What do the results mean?
Positive
A positive result indicates that drugs have been detected.
Negative
A negative result indicates no drugs have been detected.
Inconclusive
Inconclusive results are rare, but there is always a minute risk that they can happen. This means that for whatever reason no result can be drawn one way or the other. The test must be retaken.