TYPES OF TESTS
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
URINE DRUG
TESTING
|
• Highest assurance of reliable results.
• Least expensive.
• Most flexibility in testing different drugs, including alcohol and nicotine.
• Most likely of all drug-testing methods to withstand legal challenge.
|
• Specimen can be adulterated, substituted, or diluted.
• Limited window of detection.
• Test sometimes viewed as invasive or embarrassing.
• Biological hazard for specimen handling and shipping to lab.
|
HAIR DRUG
SCREEN
TEST
|
• Longer window of detection.
• Greater stability (does not deteriorate).
• Can measure chronic drug use.
• Convenient shipping and storage (no need to refrigerate).
• Collection procedure not considered invasive or embarrassing.
• More difficult to adulterate than urine.
• Detects alcohol/cocaine combination use.
|
• More expensive.
• Test usually limited to basic 5-drug panel.
• Cannot detect
alcohol use.
• Will not detect very recent drug use (1 to 7 days prior to test).
|
SALIVA OR
ORAL FLUID DRUG TEST SCREENING
|
• Sample obtained under direct observation.
• Minimal risk of tampering.
• Non-invasive.
• Samples can be collected easily in virtually any environment.
• Can detect alcohol use.
• Reflects recent drug use.
|
• Drugs and drug metabolites do not remain in oral fluids as long as they do in urine.
• Less efficient than other testing methods in detecting marijuana use.
|
SURFACE
SPRAY
DRUG TEST
|
• Non-invasive.
• Quick application and 100 % accuracy.
• No sample collection needed.
|
• You can not prove to whom belongs the result
• Only forensic use
|
