Drug testing provides a way for companies, schools, and even parents to see if other people are using alcohol or drugs. However, to test for these substances, you must choose from a range of methods. Below, we break down the different types of drug tests so that you can better understand what each test entails.

Blood Tests

Although people don’t frequently test for drugs by analyzing blood, blood drug tests have advantages. The body absorbs drugs through the bloodstream, so when a professional draws blood, they can detect the concentration of substances in the system with just a small sample. This is an invasive process, but you can accurately detect illegal drug use—in fact, it’s almost impossible to cheat this type of test. Drug testing via blood is a good choice if you’re concerned the specimen donor may attempt to submit a fake urine sample or another person’s urine specimen—there’s no way to submit another person’s blood.

The relatively quick results are also a benefit of blood tests; you can receive confirmation of drug use within five to ten days.

Hair Follicle Tests

A hair follicle test involves taking 90 to 120 strands of hair from someone’s head and analyzing it. An individual can use a kit to send the hair to a laboratory, or they can take this test at a hospital, lab, or one of AMH Nationwide’s 7,000 collection sites. Hair follicle drug tests are incredibly accurate since the sample can show whether the individual has used drugs in the past three months.

Fingernail Tests

Shockingly, labs can also test fingernail clippings for alcohol and drugs. As nails grow, a small amount of the substance remains in them. Like hair strands, fingernail samples also have longer detection windows—labs can trace drug use back six months.

Perspiration Tests

Once a person uses illicit substances, the drugs eventually leave the body through sweat. Although people don’t discuss this type of testing as often as other methods, it’s reliable and has been around for at least a couple of decades. To administer the test, a professional will place a patch on an individual’s skin. That person will wear the patch for up to a week, and a laboratory will test the sweat that collects on the patch.

Saliva Tests

If you’d like to utilize noninvasive testing methods, consider oral fluid testing. Collecting saliva is incredibly simple—all you must do is use an oral swab to scrape the inside of the cheek. A lab will process the test and analyze the saliva retrieved from the swab. Test results may be instant, or the lab can determine the results in only a few days.

Urine Tests

If you think about all the different types of drug tests, urine tests are probably what you’re most familiar with. Urinalysis can help labs detect drug presence, even after the user no longer experiences the substance’s effects. An individual must simply urinate into a specimen cup, and a lab can analyze their urine sample for a wide range of drugs.

Whether you’re an individual or employer, if you need to order a drug test online, AMH Nationwide makes the process effortless. We take pride in our ability to make drug testing affordable and accessible. For more information, give our Customer Care Team a call today.