About Rehabilitation Center Drug Tests

One of the most common methods for rehab centers to test for drugs is by analyzing urine. Its status as one of the least expensive tests makes this option popular, because of the sheer amount of testing a typical rehab center must perform. The participant will urinate in a cup, and the urine will then be tested for the drugs most commonly taken by abusers. Urine testing can detect drugs in the urine for up to a week after drug use. However, depending on how fast the individual's body can metabolize the drugs, these results may vary. After the sample is given, it is temperature-tested, sealed, and sent off to either in-house labs or a medical lab nearby. Urine tests must be done at least two to three times per week to remain effective.

Testing blood for drugs is one of the most expensive methods, but it is also the most effective. However, since it is significantly more intrusive, this sort of testing is not usually used. Blood must be drawn from an individual and then sent to a lab to be tested. Drugs tend to stay longer in blood than in other bodily fluids, so this method can detect the drugs a lot longer after their use.

Saliva testing is only a little more expensive than urine testing. It is also less intrusive, and so is often the test of choice in rehabilitation centers. In this method, a swab is swiped across the inside of the individual's mouth and sent to a lab for testing. Saliva does not hold drugs for long, so testing in this manner is usually only effective within two to three days of drug use.

Hair testing is growing more and more popular, because of hair's unique quality to detect drugs long after the initial use. Hair testing may even be able to determine when a user began using, as well as when she stopped (if they indeed have). This method is significantly more expensive than urine or saliva testing, but it is one of the least intrusive ways of getting a sample. A hair only needs to be 1.5 inches long for a sample to be obtained. The downside to this type of testing is that it can take up to a week for drug use to manifest itself in the hair. That makes this style of testing better suited to determining a patient's drug history, rather than acting as a daily drug deterrent.

Sweat is one of the most controversial media for drug testing. This style of testing requires that the user wear a special patch for extended periods of time. If the person uses, the patch can be examined to tell if and what types of drugs were involved. This is an especially sensitive way to monitor for cocaine and heroin use. The patch must be worn continuously for a week to produce the needed results. The patch is specially designed so that if the user takes it off, it can no longer be re-applied to the skin.