ABSTRACT
Testing for illicit drugs through urinalysis has had a dramatic impact in the United States in reducing illegal drug use on and off the job for employees and for individuals in professional and amateur sports and in military occupations. Drug testing has been increasingly utilized effectively to stem the widespread availability of illegal drugs and the significant threat to safety, performance and health. Illegal drugs can be most effectively identified by urinalysis, although other testing methods under consideration include blood, saliva, eye movement and hair. Drug testing by urinalysis has been conducted accurately and legally in the United States for the armed forces, employees in industry (both union and nonunion), government agencies and in sports. The process utilized has generally been to take a preliminary screen from a urine specimen, either by enzyme immunoassay, fluorescent polarization or radio immunoassay technology, and if the specimen is positive, to confirm with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Blood testing, while also accurate for illicit drugs, has been viewed as more invasive, painful and expensive. In addition, some drugs of concern, such as marijuana, are not identifiable in the blood after one day, while detectable in urine over a week or more depending on usage rate.
