There are many different types of testing available to businesses and industry. All have their place, and the preference of one over the other will largely depend upon an organisation’s needs and requirements, scale and population, and finances. The selection of one type of testing procedure over another will also depend upon your specific aims in relation to testing.
For example:
- Is the test a deterrent
- Is the test designed to catch specific drug cheats
- Is alcohol the main problem in your workplace
- Is marijuana the main problem in your workplace
- Are a combination of drugs and alcohol the issue in your workplace?
The selection of specific testing devices needs to match your requirements, so be sure to understand your own workplace culture and your own needs and the drug and alcohol profile or usage patterns of your workforce if these substances are issues. And, when you are unsure of these issues, please consult drug and alcohol testing specialists who can help you to gauge and quantify and tailor a programmed to your site’s profile.[1]
Types of testing:
There are many different types of tests. They range from:
- Urine drug screening
- Hair sample testing
- Alcohol testing with a breathalyser
- Sweat drug testing
- Blood testing[2]
A non-invasive choice
One of the most popular and easily streamlined non-invasive choices for testing is saliva testing.
This mode of testing is extremely popular with police forces around the globe, including Australia, because it is streamlined, easy to use and gives test results in a few minutes. The NSW Road Traffic Authority advocates the NSW Police Department’s use of saliva testing in its roadside drug screening programmed. In their domain saliva testing is used to test for the presence of THC, amphetamines and also ecstasy. Drivers can be tested from their vehicle windows, without the need to alight from or leave their vehicles. This makes testing easier as well as increasing the number of individuals that can be tested at any one time.
In northern Australia, the Queensland Police describe saliva based roadside drug testing as “as a simple and painless screening test that takes 3-5 minutes.” [3] And when adapted to workplace environments, a similar streamlining and ease occurs, making this mode one of the most effective and popular when incorporated into an onsite screening programme.
For more advice or information on screening modes and onsite screening programmes, speak with a trained and specialised Mediscreen employee today. Mediscreen can help you develop an onsite testing regime that is cost-effective and effective. Call Mediscreen on 1300 797040.
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_test
[3] http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/radSafety/drugDriving.htm
