Drug Testing: Purpose, Types, and Procedures

A drug test may be ordered and performed with various techniques to identify the presence of various legal or illegal substances through biological sampling. Drug tests are capable of detecting legal substances such as over-the-counter and prescription medications, tobacco, and alcohol, as well as illicit substances.
 
The biological sampling used to perform a drug test can vary according to the type of test being performed. Commonly, drug testing involves using a urine, saliva, hair, sweat, or breath sample for analysis.
 
Among these types of samples, urine is used most frequently due to the ability of a urine test to quickly and noninvasively detect the presence of a range of drugs.
 
Different types of drug tests can also detect drugs in an individual’s system over various periods. Another reason urine tests are popular is they can detect the presence of drugs in an individual’s system up to, and sometimes exceeding, 4 days after usage. By contrast, blood testing can only identify drugs for up to a few hours following use.
 
There are many reasons a drug test may be required, among the most frequent is a workplace screening. This can involve pre-employment drug screenings or drug screenings among current employees.
 
Patients will visit an urgent care center that offers drug testing, such as Quick Family Urgent Care, and provide their biological samples. The results will be carefully maintained and analyzed with results provided promptly.

Different types of drug tests may be utilized to detect different types of substances. However, a wide range of legal and illegal substances can be identified. This means drug testing can be used to identify alcohol, prescription, and over-the-counter medication, legal and illegal recreational drugs, and tobacco use.
 
The testing procedure involves the identification of specific substances or chemicals associated with a particular drug. A positive result is determined if the presence of the substance is detected. The accuracy of a drug test depends on both the type of test employed and the specific substance being tested.
 
Drug testing is only designed to detect the presence of a substance in an individual’s system and as a result, it cannot distinguish between occasional and habitual use of the substance.

Workplace drug tests can vary in type in a myriad of ways including how they are performed, the substances they aim to detect, and the reason they are conducted.
 
It is common for applicants to be ordered to undergo a pre-employment drug test as a condition for employment particularly in situations where their prospective job may involve operating heavy machinery or a vehicle.
 
Drug tests may be incorporated by employers into an employee’s annual physical exam, provided they give employees advanced notice. Tests may also be ordered on a for-cause basis, in situations where employees are behaving in a way that may suggest drug or alcohol use.
 
Random testing policies may also be put in place by some workplaces, which can be highly effective in deterring substance misuse. Tests can be carried out involving urine, saliva, and hair sampling, among other methods. These tests may be used to detect all manner of illegal or legal substance use.

How long it takes to receive drug testing results varies according to the type of test performed. However, the results of drug testing are typically available fairly quickly. Following a urine test, for instance, results are typically made available at Quick Family Urgent Care within 24 to 48 hours.
 
Drug testing is available at Quick Family Urgent Care. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online with our team of leading healthcare professionals. We are conveniently located at 4301 South Flamingo Road, Suite 102, Davie, FL 33330. We serve patients from Davie FL, Pembroke Pines FL, Miramar FL, Pine Island Ridge FL, Plantation FL, Sunrise FL, and surrounding areas.