Alcohol and Drug Testing Center – Services and Expectations

An alcohol and drug testing center is where people test for substances present in their bodies. The services they typically offer include on-site and on-call testing. There are different methods of testing, such as blood and urine tests. Some are more invasive than others. Hence, they should expect that they may experience pain. Moreover, people can expect that their privacy is safe as long as they go to accredited centers.

A test for substances is essential in knowing the risks of a person for their abuse. Misusing the substances can lead to many problems. Thus, people should get a test as early as possible. Issues in the workplace may also arise because of drugs and alcohol. Companies avail of the services of the centers to check on their employees. To learn more, the following sections will present what testing centers can offer, the expectations, and the benefits.

Services of An Alcohol and Drug Testing Center

Alcohol and drug testing centers offer services to detect if a person is using drugs and alcohol. Commonly, people can go to the centers for testing. However, some businesses offer sending their team to places such as offices to test the employees. The type of test depends on what clients want and need.

Methods come in the form of blood, urine, saliva, breath, and hair follicle testing. Firstly, a blood alcohol test is more costly, but it is one of the most accurate of all tests. Secondly, a urine test is where donors provide their sample in a container. Severe cases may require supervision to avoid tampering with the specimen.

Thirdly, a saliva test is when technicians collect samples by swabbing the insides of the cheeks. Fourthly, a breath test is done by using a breathalyser to test the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). Lastly, a hair follicle test is when collectors cut strands of hair. They do it in random parts of the hair to avoid bald spots.

Reasons

People may need or want to go to a testing center because of several reasons. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Personal – They can check if they are at risk of illnesses like Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). It is helpful for doctors to know what measures to take for them.
• Professional – Businesses want to maintain a safe and peaceful work environment. Hence, they want their future and current employees to undergo a test.
• Legal – Those suspected of use, misuse, or abuse of drugs and alcohol may be required by a court of law to go through testing.

Expectations for An Alcohol and Drug Testing Center

People who need to go to an alcohol and drug testing center may have concerns. Getting tested can be a sensitive process for some people. For instance, the method of blood alcohol test requires technicians to draw blood using a syringe. It is a generally invasive way of testing, but people who have a phobia of needles are expected to have a more difficult time. However, they should expect that technicians from centers are qualified and reliable.

There are also privacy concerns for some people. Accredited centers are dependable. Thus, they should not worry about getting the results leaked. In addition, some employers require their staff to take a test. However, there are employees who may feel a violation of their privacy. Nevertheless, as long as companies follow the guidelines set by law, they can conduct a test. Test centers can safely take care of the results.

Going to a center is typically better because it provides accuracy. However, even laboratories may produce false positive results. The results may be influenced by external factors like medication intake. When these happen, confirmatory testing is necessary.

How to Prepare

Since false positive results may happen because of various factors, they should be aware of them to avoid inconveniences. Prescription drugs can cause it. Hence, they should not consume the drug before testing. Products with alcohol may also bring about inaccurate results. Thus, it is best to not use them before the tests.

They should also prepare what their healthcare providers say. Some require fasting before a test. Hence, they must follow it for accurate results. Cleanliness is also another important aspect. One example is urine testing. They need to make sure the container and their hands are clean.

Benefits of An Alcohol and Drug Testing Center

Taking a test in alcohol and drug testing centers has many benefits. One of which is it promotes better health and safety. Moreover, it allows people to know if they have problems or if they are susceptible to risks. Furthermore, conducting a test in the workplace is beneficial. It hinders potential accidents and internal issues because of behaviour problems of an employee under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Another positive thing about doing a test in a center is accuracy. It is typically more secure than kits people can buy in pharmacies and drug stores. It is because the technicians or collectors are trained to get samples. There are fewer possibilities of inaccurate results when the test is done by a professional.

There are many advantages, but there are factors to consider such as cost. Availing of service from centers can be costly. However, if being accurate is the objective, it is certainly a good choice. This is especially true for those who need the result for legal proceedings.

Alternatives

Testing centers may have more tendencies to be accurate, but buying kits is a good alternative. People who cannot go to onsite locations of centers can use self-use kits. One of the easiest ways is acquiring a breathalyser. It can help them detect alcohol, but not drugs. Nevertheless, it is useful in keeping them safe.

Furthermore, it is a cost-effective purchase. They can use it multiple times, unlike going through tests. Breathalysers like the BACtrack from Breathalysers Australia are convenient and easy to use to monitor BAC. Moreover, there are personal and professional units. Some devices may also require calibration.

Conclusion

Alcohol and drug testing centers are places to go for tests for the substances. It is typically on-site, but some services include going to the client. An example is when businesses contact them to test their applicants or employees. It is a helpful way of maintaining peace in the workplace. Moreover, people can expect qualified sample collectors to observe and protect their privacy during testing. Meanwhile, there is still a risk of false positive results.

It is beneficial for personal and professional aspects. People can recover faster if they test as early as possible. Companies have fewer expenses when they are free of drugs and alcohol abuse. On the other hand, there are alternatives to test centers, which are commercially bought kits. They work well for those who want to have fast access to results and those who cannot go to a testing facility. Moreover, devices like breathalysers can help manage alcohol intake.