Workplace alcohol and drug testing are now regularly done across all industries nowadays. Employers perform these tests to reduce and prevent potential workplace accidents. Alcohol and drug consumption can cause severe side effects and impairments. These effects can drastically affect an employee’s ability to work safely and effectively. Alcohol and drug consumption can cause memory loss, judgement impairments, coordination problems, and slower reaction times. Working with these impairments is dangerous, especially when operating heavy machinery or driving vehicles. An employee with these impairments can endanger themselves and their coworkers in the workplace. Preventing employees with these potentially dangerous impairments from working can drastically help reduce the likelihood of workplace incidents and accidents. The most effective method for preventing impaired employees from working are drug and alcohol tests. With more and more companies performing these tests, many now ask: “Can a drug test detect alcohol?”

There are plenty of available drug and alcohol testing methods in the workplace. It is important to note that employers can use a drug test to detect alcohol consumption. Testing services offer alcohol detection services along with their drug packages. This offer makes it easy for employers to perform both alcohol and drug tests. Moreover, in some cases, the samples used in a drug test can also be used in an alcohol test. This helps reduce the time taken when collecting employee samples. For quick alcohol tests, employers can also perform breath alcohol tests with devices like the BACtrack breathalyser from Breathalysers Australia.

Can a Drug Test Detect Alcohol: Sampling Methods

There are plenty of drug testing methods available to detect alcohol usage. You can differentiate these testing methods from one another based on the kind of sample they use. Moreover, it is also important to note that most testing services have these testing methods available, and it is up to the employer to decide what they prefer. Furthermore, employers can also elect to do an alcohol test alone. Employers or testing services can quickly perform breath tests with a breathalyser. A breathalyser is a device that checks for alcohol within the breath. The breath alcohol content can then determine an employee’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). A BAC reading of 0.01% or more translates to a positive alcohol test. Employers can use a drug test to detect alcohol consumption; however, it is essential to note that alcohol breath tests cannot detect drug usage.

When providing workplace alcohol and drugs tests, employers and companies need to know the tests they can use. Knowing the kinds of tests available can help companies decide what form of testing they would want in their workplace. Furthermore, employers should also note if they can use a specific drug test to detect alcohol use. The drug and alcohol methods that employers can use are:

• Urine Tests (for alcohol and drugs)
• Blood tests (for alcohol and drugs)
• Saliva tests (for alcohol and drugs)
• Sweat tests (for alcohol and drugs)
• Breath Alcohol tests (with BACtrack workplace breathalysers)

Can a Drug Test Detect Alcohol Use during Workplace Testing?

Companies and employers’ most common tests are breath alcohol tests and urine tests. These tests are easy, quick to perform, and highly reliable. Employers can perform breath tests through breath testers like the BACtrack workplace breathalyser from Breathalysers Australia. A breath test with a breathalyser only takes a few seconds to process your BAC. There is no further testing or sample processing needed. An employee only needs to provide an adequate breath sample to the breathalyser. On the other hand, testing services offer urine tests more often because they are non-invasive. Unlike blood tests, urine test samples are easy to acquire and require less processing equipment. A blood test requires a highly certified collector and a certified laboratory to process its samples. Additionally, it is also possible for a urine drug test to detect alcohol usage accurately.

When performing an alcohol and drug test, it is also essential for employers to know that it is now possible for on-site testing. Mobile testing units are now available, and they can provide tests within the workplace. This method can drastically help maintain the workplace’s productivity even during drug and alcohol testing. Furthermore, the mobile testing units can still use a drug test to detect alcohol usage. These testing units still have the latest portable testing kits available, allowing for highly reliable on-site testing.

Can a Drug Test Detect Alcohol: When Do Employers Perform Tests?

Employers can use a drug test to detect alcohol usage during workplace tests. Since alcohol is readily available, it is essential to include it in all forms of workplace testing. Employers perform workplace testing for many reasons and causes. These tests are done to ensure workplace safety and reduce workplace hazards. Moreover, it can also help a company with their productivity. Having employees that are always fit to work can drastically help a company perform better. Employers test for alcohol and drugs during:

• Post-accident/incident testing: A test provided to check if alcohol or drugs were involved in a specific workplace accident. This form of testing can help the company decide the next course of action after an accident.
• Random testing: An unannounced test and can be at any time. This form of testing can help catch employees trying to hide their usage.
• Pre-employment testing: Tests are given to applicants before a company can hire them. This form of testing can prevent hiring potentially dangerous employees.
• Blanket testing: A procedure that tests all the employees in the company.
• Post-positive testing: A test required for employees returning to work after positive testing. This test can help ensure that the returning employees are fit to work.

Breath Tests

Aside from always needing a drug test to detect alcohol usage, employers can provide more frequent alcohol tests. Breath alcohol tests are cost-effective and easy to perform. All an employer needs is an accurate device like the BACtrack workplace breathalyser from Breathalysers Australia. Having a workplace device allows for more constant tests. Having a workplace breathalyser can also help reduce testing costs because you would no longer need to keep hiring testing services. Moreover, it is also essential to know that breath tests are highly reliable. Even police offers and medical professionals rely on breath tests to provide safer roads and adequate medical prescriptions, respectively.

Why Use BACtrack devices?

Employers would no longer need an expensive drug test to detect alcohol use. The BACtrack workplace breathalyser from Breathalysers Australia can effectively and accurately provide alcohol tests. These devices feature fuel cell sensors. These are the same sensors you would find in a police officer’s breathalyser. Moreover, fuel cell sensors are only sensitive to ethyl alcohol, making them less likely to provide false-positive results. Breath tests with a BACtrack breathalyser are also quick and easy to perform. BACtrack devices have one-button operations and only take 10 to 15 seconds to process your BAC results.