Drug Testing Methods and Analysis | Research & Encyclopedia Articles

Drug Testing Methods and Analysis

There are a number of reasons for the use of drug tests. Some drug tests are requested by doctors for medical reasons, others by employers to ensure that employees are not working while under the influence of drugs. Drugs can be detected by testing samples of urine, blood, and other bodily fluids, as well as hair. The following sections explain the various reasons for drug testing, and the types of drug testing methods.

Various means are used to test for the presence of drugs, most involving chemical analysis of urine, blood, hair, sweat, or saliva.

Testing for Medical Reasons

Under many different conditions a physician may need to determine whether a person is using illegal drugs and, if so, what kind. A physician needs this information before deciding how to diagnose and treat a patient. For example, a person showing a reduced degree of alertness may be the victim of an illness or be intoxicated. Through drug testing, a physician can rule out drug intoxication. A series of drug tests on fluid and tissue samples (for example, blood, urine, saliva, and hair) permits the physician to more accurately determine the person's condition and then make appropriate medical decisions regarding the patient's care.

Drug Testing Methods and Analysis article

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