Drug Test Kits in Australia: All You Need To Know
10 August, 2023
Drug use can be a difficult problem to address. For many institutions, there is a zero-tolerance policy for drugs. Their use can create an unsafe work environment. They can decrease productivity and increase the risk of accidents. Industries that use heavy machinery or are physically involved like sports especially should watch out for drug use. Fortunately, drug test kits in Australia provide an easy way to test for it.
Test kits are fairly simple to use. Depending on the type of test, they can return results within a day or two. Once a company has results, they will be more informed about drug use in their organisation. This can help them assess employee health and understand current risk levels. In this article, you will learn about drug test kits, their uses and how to conduct them, and what to do with the results.
Drug Test Kits in Australia: What Are They?
Drug test kits in Australia are easily accessible. Many companies sell kits for private use. They typically cost under $50. Results are relatively quick, with the slowest tests coming back within a few days. A lot of individuals and companies purchase these kits for multiple reasons and safety purposes. Some of these tests can be done personally or requires you to send samples for laboratory analysis.
These drug test kits give consumers the easiest way possible to test for alcohol and other illegal substances. Before using a drug test, understand the legality of it. Every company should have its own drug use policy. This will help determine when the company is able to or should administer tests. It also dictates what happens when employees test positive.
Drug tests come in many forms. Hair and blood are some of the most accurate. However, these are somewhat invasive. Urine and even breath samples for alcohol will suffice as well. Any method has benefits and drawbacks. It is always worth the peace of mind of understanding drug use better.
Types of Drug Testing
There are several types of drug testing, and may include the following:
- Urine drug test is where a urine sample is collected and analysed.
- Saliva drug test is an oral swab test that is a common method of drug testing in workplaces.
- Hair follicle test is where a few hair strands are collected and tested.
- Alcohol testing uses a kit or a device specifically designed for identifying the alcohol level content from a breath sample.
Some of these methods can be conducted personally or may require you to submit to a laboratory for thorough and comprehensive analysis.
Uses of Drug Test Kits in Australia
Drug test kits in Australia give results if you have been using or misusing several drugs. A drug test may be used for different purposes. Firstly, many employers may screen you for drugs as part of the pre-employment hiring process. They also conduct different kinds of tests such as employment testing, random drug testing, or post-accident testing. Thus, to identify the reason and continuous use of drugs in the workplace and possibly, prevent it from happening.
Secondly, athletes and professionals are often tested for drugs. Drugs are used to enhance their performance and to help build muscle. For this reason, drug testing is also conducted. Lastly, a drug test is done for legal evidence. Testing may be a part of a motor vehicle accident or criminal investigation. It may also be ordered as part of a court case.
Furthermore, drug tests may also be used to monitor misuse of prescription drugs, or treatment in programs for drug and alcohol use disorders. It may either be scheduled or done randomly without further notice.
How to Use Them
For a saliva drug test, swab the inside of your cheek and insert the swab into the test collection device. It could also be placing the saliva sample directly onto a special test strip. For urine tests, the procedure is by urinating in a collection cup and inserting the test strip to test the urine.
If there are illegal substances found in your saliva or urine, the components of the special test strip will reach and change colours. Furthermore, a breath test uses a breathalyser to measure how much alcohol is in the air a person breathes out by blowing into it.
Drug Test Kits Australia: What to Do With the Results
If a drug test result is negative, it is either no drugs were found in your samples or there was a very tiny amount of drugs, however, they were not enough to be positive. When the result is positive, on the other hand, it means that there are several drugs that were found in your samples. It either suggests drug use or misuse of drugs.
Positive tests require follow-up testing. The reason for this is that the results may be wrong or false positives. Usually, a follow-up test is a test that provides more accurate results.
Whenever using drug test kits in Australia, the results need to be reviewed by a medical professional. After receiving the drug test kit in Australia, the lab will analyse the specimen and have a doctor look over what came up. This ensures that the subjects receive an educated analysis. It also allows the doctor to account for prescription medications that may have altered results.
How Fast to Expect Results
The drug test results depend on several factors such as the type of test you took, where you took the test and what exactly the result was. Most commonly, it takes between 1 to 10 business days. If the results are negative or non-negative, they could be returned in 24 hours. Positive results may take 1 week or more.
A breathalyser, on the other hand, can give you immediate and fast results, within seconds. You can also get an average of 5 to 10 minutes for at-home drug tests. Nevertheless, some laboratory tests have improved in time efficiency with 24 to 72 hours.
Conclusion
Drug testing is very important in having a safe and healthy environment. It is also vital to workplaces especially when they implement safety programs for minimising accidents and injuries. Drug test kits in Australia help to detect illegal substances, thus protecting the health of employees struggling with substance abuse. Not only the health of the employees but to protect everyone in the workplace, and the security and finances of the companies and businesses.
Testing also helps deter people from using drugs or from drug abuse. Most people do not want to take the risks of losing jobs, their loved ones and great opportunities in their lives. The best way is to quit taking these substances. Having a good life is more important than having temporary enjoyment. For personal breathalysers, you can visit Breathalysers Australia for extensive options. You can also find options for workplace breathalysers.