How long does pre employment drug screening take?

The pre employment drug screening take 2-5 days.

Urine testing:

• Negative results: 1-5 business days
• Positive results: 4-10 business days

Hair testing:

• Negative results: 4-10 business days
• Positive results: Up to 1 week

Blood testing:

• Negative results: 1-5 business days
• Positive results: Up to 5 business days

Additionally, negative test results typically are available within 1-2 business days, while positive results may take 4-6 days or more due to additional testing. Rapid tests, which provide results the same day, are also available for some situations.

What factors can affect the turnaround time for pre-employment drug testing?

Turnaround times for pre-employment drug testing can be affected by several factors:

1. Type of drug test requested (urine, hair, blood)
2. Specific drugs being screened for
3. Laboratory provider’s efficiency and resources
4. Whether the initial report is positive or negative
5. Additional testing required for positive results
6. Collection time (after-hours or weekends)
7. Errors in the collection process
8. Weather conditions, mechanical issues, or human error
9. MRO review and contact with the candidate
10. Additional testing required for positive results (e.g., GCMS, D&L Isomer test)
11. Rescheduling or delays by the candidate
12. Exclusive deals between laboratories and background screening companies
13. Candidate scheduling options for drug and medical testing

Negative test results are typically available within 1-2 business days, while positive results may take 4-6 days or more due to additional testing. Rapid tests, which provide results the same day, are also available for some situations

What types of drug tests are commonly used in pre-employment screening?

Here’s the breakdown of commonly used drug tests in pre-employment screening:

1. Urine Testing: This is the most common form of pre-employment drug testing. It can detect a wide range of drugs and is typically conducted once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Urine tests can show traces of drug use even after the effects of the drug have worn off and remain in the body for an extended period of time.
2. Hair Testing: Hair testing has a longer detection window for drug use, spanning up to 90 days. It detects past drug use and is often used to screen for drugs.
3. Oral Fluid Testing: This test is 100% observed, making it difficult for employees to cheat, dilute, or adulterate the test. It can identify recent drug usage and has a detection window of about one to three days for most drugs.
4. Blood Testing: Blood testing is very accurate but costly and invasive. It has a shorter detection period, typically minutes to hours, and is not as commonly used for pre-employment drug screening.

These tests are often used to screen for drugs, but employers can also request testing for additional substances.