Why Urine Drug Test is Conducted More Commonly?

Identifying the drug abused persons is possible by conducting different types of drug testing. Among urine, saliva, blood, and hair drug tests, urine drug testing is more common. It is also the test which is federally mandated for conducting on-site tests and laboratory analysis. There are many reasons for its prominent use.

Urine drug testing can be conducted very easily. The kits that help in conducting the test are so simple in design and can be handled by any one. The procedures to be followed are mentioned on the drug testing product. All you need to do is to fill the testing product with few drops of collected urine sample. The test gives accurate and reliable results within 5 minutes. Urine drug test kits available in the market are manufactured in such a way that they work based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) cut-off levels. So 98% accuracy is associated with such urine drug test kits.

Urine drug test method can detect the drug usage for a maximum of two weeks from the time of abuse. It is the cheapest form of drug testing and is an economical option for conducting drug tests at workplaces, schools, and other organizations. Many illegal drugs like marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, barbiturates, codeine, and many others. Also there are many multi-panel drug test kits that can detect different drugs at a time. It is less invasive when compared to blood drug testing. Due to the above said features, urine drug testing is done more commonly.

Disadvantages of Sweat Drug Testing Method

Drug testing conducted frequently on drug abusers is one of the ways to prevent them from being addicted. Among many different types of drug testing like urine, saliva, hair, and blood drug testing, sweat drug testing is one. But it is not used commonly. Sweat drug testing includes patches that are attached on the skin to absorb sweat. The drug or its metabolite is checked in the sweat of an individual. The patch is attached to the skin for over two weeks and then removed and sent to the laboratory for result. It is mostly used at places where urine drug testing is not practical or applicable.

There are even some disadvantages of sweat drug testing. One of the disadvantage is the high variability among individuals. The nature of the sweat of different individuals is different. This affects the results of drug testing. High chances of adulteration are associated with sweat drug testing. There are many chances that the patch is prone to environmental contamination before application or after removal. Also, there is a risk of accidental removal of the patch during the monitoring period.

It is to be made sure that the surface of the skin is cleaned thoroughly before placing the patch. The patch should also be handled carefully while attaching it to the skin. Otherwise the cellulose pad of the patch may get contaminated during handling. Any improper handling of the patch in the laboratory during analysis also affects the results. However, still many researches are being conducted to find the efficiency and utility of sweat to be used as a drug testing material.

Want to Know About Sweat Drug Screening?

Illegal drug abuse is a bad habit that results in serious health effects. It is even responsible for a large number of deaths in the United States. Checking for drug usage among individuals is important to identify the abuse at early stages. It helps in reducing the current side effects of health and even prevents further damage to the body. Different methods of drug testing are available. These include urine drug testing, saliva drug testing, hair drug testing, and blood drug testing. Have you ever heard of sweat drug testing? Proceed further to know about it.

From the name, you can know that the drug or its metabolite is detected from sweat of an individual. In a sweat drug test, certain patches are attached to the skin surface for about a period of two weeks. They are designed in such a way that they have some security features. These features keep them from being removed and reapplied without the knowledge of the testing agency. A adhesive layer is present on the thin transparent film of a surgical dressing of the patch. A cellulose pad is attached to it. The sweat gets absorbed and concentrated in the cellulose pad. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor are transferred out through the transparent film. However, the drug constituents in the sweat are not lost.

As the patch is kept for many days, the sweat gets saturated and the excreted drug slowly concentrates. Then the patch is removed and sent immediately to the laboratory for analysis. This method of drug testing is mostly used by child protective services and other government institutions concerned with use over long periods when urine drug testing is not applicable or practical.