Home Drug Testing: An Overview
The past 20 years or so have seen a large increase in drug
testing in the workplace and elsewhere. This testing has usually
taken place in a laboratory setting; home drug testing is a
relatively new phenomenon.
With increased demand for pre-employment and random drug
screening of employees came a huge market for home drug testing.
Several products are available to consumers and can ease one's
mind. Whether the person is a recreational or habitual user or
even just worried that diet or environment may create a false
positive, having results from a home drug testing kit can
accurately predict the outcome of the official test.
Creators of home drug testing kits also had another group in
mind: worried parents of teenagers. As one of the largest
consumers of this type of product, parents can now easily test
their children if drug use is suspected. Some experts question
whether or not this can damage the parent/child relationship,
while others argue that it is a parent's right and obligation to
know and to seek treatment for their child if need be. Parents
appreciate the privacy and anonymity of home drug testing.
Testing is usually performed by the traditional urine sample
method; however, the oral swab method is becoming more respected
and popular. The kit can be obtained via mail order, at
specialty shops, or even from major pharmacies. After the sample
is taken, it is sent to the company's laboratory for testing.
One can expect results in just a few days. Some of the home drug
testing kits offer immediate results (within about ten minutes)
but then also offer laboratory certification of the results.
Most home drug testing kits test for the ten most commonly
abused substances. Home drug testing kits, like many laboratory
tests, do not detect the timeframe of usage. Marijuana is the
most commonly tested and is available in all screening kits.
Some all-in-one kits contain tests for marijuana, cocaine,
methamphetamines, opiates, PCP and common prescription drugs.
A variety of methods are available for on-site and home drug
testing. Employers like the benefits of cost cutting and
convenience; parents like the option of privately testing their
children. The home drug testing and on-site drug testing market
flourishes because of the obvious benefits. Some human resource
experts believe that on-site and do-it-yourself drug testing
kits are the wave of the future.