Pre-Employment Drug Testing: What Employers Need to Know

The outcome of a pre-employment drug test depends on the specific type of test and the employer’s requirements. Various factors come into play, including the nature of the job, company policies, and industry standards. Let’s delve into the details:

Employers have several different options when it comes to pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. They can choose to use instant tests (POCT tests) or lab-based tests. They also have a choice between sample method (i.e. urine, oral fluid, hair, breath) depending on the test. A company can test for a number of different drugs of abuse as well as alcohol and nicotine.

Many employers require drug tests, especially in the transportation industry. Federal employees, such as the Department of Defense employees are required to take and pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. Private companies that work with public safety also require drug and alcohol testing of potential hires.

What can show up in a pre-employment drug test?

Drugs and alcohol can show up in a pre-employment drug test. Most employers look for a standard 5-panel (often referred to as the NIDA-5) test however many will conduct expanded panels:

Standard 5 Panel Test:

Cocaine
Marijuana (THC)
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Opiates
Amphetamines

The 10-panel test will search for the five most common and 5 additional drugs:

Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
Methadone
Methaqualone (quaaludes)
Propoxyphene (Darvon)

It is important to point out that while some drug classes cover a range of drugs, on instant tests and in many cases lab tests, the individual drugs within those classes require additional test strips or expanded panels that will then be called out individually for reporting:

Drug Class Opiates:

Opiate/morphine/codeine
6AM (Heroin)
Oxycodone/hydrocodone
Buprenorphine
Fentanyl

Drug Class Amphetamines:

Amphetamine
Methamphetamine
MDMA (Ecstasy)

Does alcohol show up on a pre-employment drug test?

Typically, most employers do not perform pre-employment alcohol testing unless required by their industry. There a few options for alcohol testing:

Breathalyzer: Measures the donor’s current alcohol level but does not detect past alcohol use.
Urine Test: Screens for drugs of abuse, nicotine, and alcohol. Metabolites remain in urine after drug effects wear off.
Saliva Test: Collects oral fluid and detects recent drug usage (up to one to two days).
Hair Test: Detects drug usage over a longer period (up to 90 days).

In addition to drug testing, Origin offers comprehensive pre-employment background screening services, which includes national criminal database search, employee work history verification, social security number trace, and health care sanctions, to name a few. We want our clients to make smart, compliant, and well-informed hiring decisions.