Employment Drug TestingCorona, CA
In many jobs, employment drug testing can ensure that employees are not putting other people at risk. Testing may take place before, during, or periodically throughout employment. Employment drug testing is screening done specifically to identify drug abuse that could interfere with job performance.
Employment drug testing is available at Medicross Clinic and Urgent Care in Corona and the surrounding area. We will take the proper steps to ensure that your experience is quick, comfortable, and easy. Dr. George Chidi, MD, and our team will help guide patients through the testing process.
Call us today at 951-272-5900 to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment.
Understanding Employment Drug Testing
Drug testing, also known as toxicology screening, determines both the amount and type of drugs (both legal and illicit) taken by the patient. An employer may choose to have their employees undergo drug testing to ensure that they do not have any substance abuse problems, that they are not intoxicated at work, or that they are not at risk of overdose.
However, employers must ensure that applicants know in advance of any pre-employment drug testing that is part of the screening process. All applicants for the same job must undergo the same type of test, and these tests must be administered only at a state-certified laboratory. Employers can choose to test for certain drugs and exclude others.
5 Panel Drug Testing vs. 10 Panel Drug Testing
The 5-panel drug test and the 10-panel drug test examine the patient for the five most commonly abused drugs in the United States. While the 5-panel drug test looks for illicit drugs, the 10-panel drug test looks for misused prescription drugs. Specifically, the 5-panel drug test searches for amphetamines and methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana (THC), MDMA, opiates, and PCP. The 10-panel drug test searches for barbiturates, benzodiazepines, methadone, and other prescription narcotics, methaqualone, and propoxyphene.
Urine Drug Testing
Urine drug testing is a painless process that involves analyzing a sample of your urine. Usually, these tests look for the use of amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, marijuana, methadone, methamphetamines, opioids, and PCP within the past three days. A urine drug test may also check for alcohol, although breath tests are more common.
There are two types of urine drug screens: the immunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The immunoassay is more common, as it is cost-effective and returns results quickly. GC/MS is usually conducted after the immunoassay comes back positive, to confirm the results.
Hair Drug Testing
Hair drug testing, or hair follicle drug testing, consists of cutting off a small amount of the patient's hair using scissors and sending the sample away for analysis. After confirming the employee's identity, the collector will cut anywhere from 100 to 120 hairs from the crown of their head.
To avoid creating a bald spot, they may collect the hairs from different spots on the employee's crown. Washing, dying, or styling the hair will not affect the results of the analysis. Usually, these tests look for the use of amphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, methamphetamine, opioids, and PCP within the past 90 days.
Oral Fluid Drug Testing
Also known as mouth swab drug testing or saliva drug testing, oral fluid drug testing is a frequently used alternative to urine drug testing. Compared to urine drug testing, oral fluid drug testing is easier to administer and harder to tamper with. It is the least invasive method of drug testing.
There are two basic steps in the process: (1) The employee has their cheek swabbed by a collection stick with an absorbent pad or sponge on its end, and (2) the sample is analyzed either on-site or in a lab. The test may look for one or more of the following: amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis (THC), methamphetamine, opioids, and PCP.
Learn More Today
For many workers, employment drug testing is a routine part of life. We at Medicross Clinic and Urgent Care will take the necessary steps to make your experience comfortable and convenient. Call us today at 951-272-5900 to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stop eating and drinking before my employment drug test?
Yes. Beverages, food, mouthwash, and over-the-counter medication can all affect the results of an oral fluid drug test. Patients should refrain from consuming food or drinks for 10 minutes before specimen collection.
How long will it take to get the results of my employment drug test?
Employment drug testing yields results fairly quickly. An employer may even request to have a rapid test done to provide results on the same day. Negative results can be received as soon as within 24 hours, while positive results may require further testing that takes up to one week. A negative drug test will result in a medical review officer (MRO) reporting the results directly to the employer. A positive drug test will result in an MRO contacting the employee for further questioning.
What happens if I test positive for marijuana now that it is legal in the state of California?
The answer varies on a case-by-case basis. Since its legalization, many employers have been reconsidering whether they want to test for the drug at all. It is important to remember, however, that marijuana is still considered a Schedule I substance under federal law.
What happens if I get a false positive on my employment drug test?
A variety of non-illicit drugs can bring about false positives on drug tests. These include, but are not limited to, antihistamines, antidepressants, antibiotics, analgesics, antipsychotics, decongestants, and certain over-the-counter drugs. An incorrectly administered drug test can also result in a false positive. If you believe this has happened to you, contact your employer immediately. They may have a medical officer or other designated professional to remedy the problem. You may be subject to further testing to confirm your assertions.
What happens if I get an inconclusive employment result on my drug test?
Several factors can bring about an inconclusive drug test. Sometimes, it may be as simple as high water intake. In any case, if your drug test comes back inconclusive, your employer will likely subject you to a second test, which they will instruct you to limit water intake for.
Contact Us
Medicross Clinic and Urgent Care is located at
487 Magnolia Avenue, Suite 102, Corona Village Center,
Corona, CA 92879
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