Last updated : November 11, 2024
There are three major types of drug tests. The most common is the urine test, which detects drugs such as amphetamines, barbiturates, marijuana, cocaine, methadone, LSD and PCP. These tests are considered to be reliable with detection periods lasting from 12 hours to 6 weeks depending on the drugs in a person’s system. It’s also an excellent option for on-the-spot tests, but some harder drugs will not appear after certain periods of time. On the other hand, it’s the only reliable method of detecting TCAs or steroids.
Another way tests are conducted is an oral fluid sample. This is an unobtrusive way of detecting recent drug use and can detect almost every major drug known. Since it only requires a saliva sample, the test can be taken anywhere at any time without the need for same-sex administrators or a bathroom, which also reduces the likelihood of tampering with the samples. However, the detection period is shorter than a urine sample for most drugs.
Tests can also be conducted using a person’s hair. Hair shafts can actually contain trace amounts of most drugs, and no external chemicals can change the test results. This makes hair testing the most accurate method of determining most forms of drug abuse. Moreover, the detection period lasts up to 90 days for most drugs with the exception of a four-day period for LSD. Since it’s very easy to collect hair, it’s practically impossible for someone to avoid taking the test unless they don’t have any hair samples.
