Drug and Alcohol Testing

Urine Testing

Often times employers do both DOT and Non DOT drug tests for pre-employment. We offer both instant and lab based drug tests. Both types of tests have their purpose, and it is vital to recognize the differences when choosing a test. The lab based urine test is always our recommendation when the results have to be admissible as legal evidence in court. An instant test may be deemed inaccurate in a court of law.

A urine lab based drug test is the sole method that is approved for drug testing that is federally mandated. If federal guidelines require a drug test, you must get a lab based urine test.

Under most circumstances an instant urine test will be less costly and more convenient. Most background screenings and employers accept the results of an instant urine test. Unlike a lab test, which may take several days to process, an instant urine test will provide immediate results.

We follow DOT drug testing rules and procedures with all drug collections regardless whether they are DOT or Non DOT Lab or Instant. Everyone is held to the same standard. We are all certified drug testing collectors for urine, hair and saliva as well as Breath Alcohol Testing.

Hair Testing

Hair testing for drug abuse is only Non Dot, and is the sole testing method that can give you a history of drug use for up to 90 days. Hair testing is the best way to evaluate longer term drug use habits. In comparison to urine testing, hair testing usually results in about twice as many positives as a result of its longer detection time-frame.

Saliva Testing

Saliva testing methods have the ability to detect drugs immediately after they have been taken and up to four days thereafter. Other kinds of drug tests, such as urine testing cannot detect drugs during the first four hours after use. This makes saliva testing the best method for post-accident and impairment testing.

There are both instant and lab-based saliva tests available, with the lab based tests capable of individual drug identification and greatly reducing the chance of a false positive.

Drugs that are in the blood stream are always in the saliva as well. Saliva test will measure the parent drug compound, which is the drug before it has been metabolized and is normally the psychoactive component of the drug. Detection of the parent compound within the saliva indicates that it has entered the blood. The level of a drug within the saliva is directly proportional to the blood level, therefore, it is an accurate means of measuring impairment. In comparison, urine drug tests measure drug metabolites, which do not have a correlation to impairment.

Breath Alcohol Test

As most of us are aware, a breath alcohol test is frequently used by law enforcement to detect blood alcohol content. The results of these tests are fairly accurate and have been admissible in courts. Employers frequently require employees to submit to this type of test if they suspect that an employee is impaired by alcohol.

This is a required test for DOT programs and measures current impairment. The test is conducted with an evidential breath testing device commonly called a Breathalyzer. We use Lifeloc EV 20 & 30. All of our technicians are certified STT or BATs by Lifeloc. When you drink alcohol, the amount of alcohol in your blood goes up. This is called your blood-alcohol level. When the amount of alcohol in the blood reaches 0.02% to 0.03%, you may feel a relaxing "high." Driving and operating machinery when you're drunk (intoxicated) is dangerous. A person with an alcohol level of 0.08% and above is considered legally drunk in most states. (Some states have lower levels than others.) The alcohol content of exhaled air accurately reflects the alcohol content of the blood.

Even more definitive blood alcohol level results may be obtained by a blood test.

Blood Drug Testing

Similar to saliva testing, blood testing may be used in circumstances when a person is suspected of being drug or alcohol impaired. Drugs and alcohol are quickly metabolized and excreted from the body, causing blood tests to have a narrow detection window. Drug blood levels are normally detectable from several minutes to a few hours after use, depending upon the particular drug being used, and its dosage.