What do pre-employment drug tests look for?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as many as 7 percent of adults employed full time, and 9 percent employed part time in the United States use illegal drugs. For this reason, many companies have begun testing potential employees prior to offering them a position.UrineThe most common and cost effective way for companies to test potential employees is through urine tests conducted offsite at an independent laboratory such as Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp. Urine tests also provide results within 24 to 72 hours of when the test is taken, making the option more efficient.Five PanelThe more basic urine test includes testing of the following drugs: amphetamine and methamphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates (codeine and morphine) and phencyclidine (PCP or angel dust). These tests typically only detect drug use within the past 72 hours, although this may work up to two weeks for a chronic marijuana smoker.Nine PanelThe more extensive, and expensive, n