How Long Do Employment Drug Test Results Take?
Before you get hired for the job, your potential employer will have you undergo a pre-employment drug test. During this time you may be unsure when the results will come back and you’ll know for sure if you have passed or not. Most employers will work with challenging deadlines and strict timelines for when things have to be completed. By having a better understanding of how the employee drug testing process works, you can have a better guess at when you’ll get your results back.
If you’re an employer looking for a quick way to get results back for your potential employees, Preferred Med Supply has drug testing kits for employment that will give you the quick and accurate results you need.
What is an Employment Drug Test?
An employment drug test is a drug screening given by potential employers before giving someone the position. These drug tests have become more and more popular as time has gone on. These drug tests have given employers peace of mind that the person they are hiring won’t cause a disturbance in the workplace and reduces the chance of potential accidents or injuries from happening.
The type of drug test given by an employer can vary, though most employment drug tests will test for common drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, PCP, opiates, and amphetamines. There are some employers that can possibly test for alcohol or other elevated levels of prescription drugs.
What Determines the Results Time Frame?
There are a few different factors that can affect how long it takes to get results from an employment drug test. Depending on what type of test was administered, you could receive results sooner rather than later. It will also depend on what type of drugs were tested for, what lab provider is used, and if the initial report was positive or negative.
Drug Tested
A majority of employers will often use a 5-panel test for employment screenings. This is a simple test that checks for cocaine, cannabinoids, PCP, opiates, and amphetamines. They could also use a 10 or 12-panel test that test for additional drugs. In this case, the results could take an additional day or two.
Drug Test Types
The type of drug test that is used can also have an effect on the wait time. With the most common-used employment drug test, these are the average wait times you can expect:
- Urine Drug Test: 1 – 5 Days
- Hair Drug Test: 4 – 10 Days
- Blood Drug Test: 1 – 5 Days
Negative Vs. Positive Test Results
Another factor that plays into the return of results is if the test comes back negative or positive. In the case that the test is negative, the employer will receive the results in about 3 business days. If the test comes back positive, the lab may run the test again to ensure there isn’t a false positive. The employer will typically receive the results in about 5 business days.
Lab Provider
While the average time is about 3 – 5 business days to receive the results, the lab provider that is used can affect the results. Some labs take longer than others or may have more samples to work through. Employers can cut down on this time with bulk drug testing kits available on our shop page.
Get Employment Drug Test Results in Minutes!
Finding the perfect candidate for the job can take much longer than it needs to with drug testing results times. Preferred Med Supply can help remove that time with drug testing kits available in bulk quantities. Don’t wait for the labs, instead, get the results you need in just minutes!
