To keep it simple, random drug testing is a technical analysis of a specimen (ex.: urine, hair follicles, breath air, sweat, etc.) for the presence or absence of drugs and their metabolites. With strong anti-drug abuse policies in place, it’s not surprising that random drug testing has numerous major applications in the following: Employment Process:Employers screen their applicants and current employees for drugs that are prohibited by the law marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. These tests are sometimes carried out without prior notice especially if the employer suspects that one of his staff is using prohibited drugs. Sports: Sports organizations run athletes through random drug tests primarily …show more content…
With the Frye Rule, Federal Rules of Evidence, and Daubert Rule, hair testing results are now accepted in the court as scientifically and legally admissible forensic evidence. One advantage of this method over urinalysis is that patients cannot adulterate their hair samples to mislead the test Saliva Drug Test: This test is usually carried out to determine the use of prohibited drugs during the previous day. You see, substances like marijuana and alcohol stay in the body for hours – 1 to 24 hours and 6 to 12 hours respectively. One disadvantage, however, is that saliva testing is not recognized by the FDA for Federal Mandated Drug Testing. Another concern is that, while oral fluids are not bio-hazards, they should be handled with great care. Presumptive Substance Testing: Instead of testing individuals through biological means, presumptive testing tries to identify traces of drugs retained in suspicious substances, materials, or surfaces. The process involves mixing the material in question with a chemical. If it triggers a color change, drug is present. Many presumptive substance testing kits can be bought over the counter and doesn’t require a laboratory to get the