Chapter 8 - Workplace Drug Testing

Abstract

It is now recognized that workplace drug testing is a complex interdisciplinary science, with the choice of the sample to use in drug testing depending on the purpose of the testing. Where it is necessary to ensure that no employee is working under the influence of drugs, urine or oral fluid samples can be used, whereas hair as a sample for drug testing allows a long-term historical window of the subject’s drug use. This window is extremely useful for recruitment decisions, as it enables drug users to be excluded when their drug use would be incompatible with their activities were they are to be employed. Guidelines for drug testing using hair samples do exist, covering sample collection, advice as to suitable analytical procedures, and best practice in interpreting results. These ensure that all users, whether an individual or a large organization, can clearly understand the potentials of drug testing in hair.