You’ve asked for an update on Instant Drug Tests to help you decide on what new products you might want to consider for your Drug Testing Program.  Here it is!

Best Instant Drug Tests in 2019

Having trouble deciding on what Instant Drug Tests are the best for you? Is there anything new that might be interesting?

So many test users relied on our 2018 report on the Best Instant Drug Tests because they were looking for some guidance on what they should consider for their best approach to testing and what products were available to fit their needs. 

So here is our update on the Best Instant Drug Tests in 2019.

Some Factors to Consider In Picking a Drug Test

• Does your current program, or even Federal, State, or Local laws dictate how and what you test for?
  You may wish to review some of our earlier blogs on Employee Drug Testing.  In particular, the Blog on Pre-Employment Drug Testingprovides some useful links to legal resources and requirements.

• Are you only concerned with testing for the most commonly abused illicit drugs like THC, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Opiates, and Methamphetamines or are Designer Synthetic Drugssuch as Fentanyl or Synthetic Marijuana becoming more of a concern in your area?
• Once you determine which drugs you are required to test, the most commonly abused, or the most potentially hazardous in your area; find the tests that screen for those drugs.
• Do you worry about only one single drug or think someone is trying to sabotage their test result in some way?
  • We have single drug test optionsin addition to our multi-drug tests.
  • You can get a drug test that includes an Adulteration Test Panelor order a separate Adulteration Panel test.
  • If one specific test medium is not a viable option, including possible medical reasons, there are alternate test options available, such as Hair Testing.
  • If Alcohol abuse is an added concern, there are both specialty testsand Alcohol test strips build into Drug Teststhat are available.

Once you’ve put together a list of your concerns, here is our list of the Best of the Best Instant Drug Tests for 2019. Be sure to check out the Comparison Table of Benefits that follows.

The Customer Preferred Drug Test

The Favorite Instant Saliva Drug Test (Ten Drugs Included)

Although Instant Urine Tests have been available for a longer time, many customers have developed a preference for Instant Saliva Drug Tests.

This Specific Best-Selling Instant Saliva Drug Test screens for the most commonly abused  illicit drug groups: Amphetamines, Cocaine, Methamphetamines, Opiates, and Marijuana and additionally for Barbiturates, Buprenorphine, Benzodiazepine, Oxycodone, and PCP.

However, right behind it is a test configuration with only the 5 most commonly abused drugs and then, also the same basic test with Methadone and an Alcohol strip added. Five out of six of our InstaCube Saliva Drug Testsare part of our top 10 most popular products

Instant Saliva Drug tests have become popular because the test can be done without any special collection facilities and provide immediate results.  The tester can avoid cross gender observation, witness the collection to minimize the potential for tampering with the specimen, and this particular device allows you to photocopy or take a clear picture of the test results for a company job file.

The Best Instant All-In-One Cup Drug Test

The Twelve Panel All in One PreScreen Plus Drug Test Cup (CLIA Waved)

Our customers have moved a step up from last year’s choice for Best Instant Cup, which was a Ten Drug PreScreen Cup.  This year, they have chosen to purchase more of our Twelve Panel All in One PreScreen Plus Drug Test Cups by adding Buprenorphine and Oxycodone to the drug test line-up.

These test cups are FDA Cleared/CLIA Waived and have up to a 99% accuracy rate. Using this cup couldn’t be easier. Test results are available in 5 minutes. This Twelve Panel All-in-One PreScreen Plus Drug Test Cup will screen urine for Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepine, Buprenorphine, Cocaine, Ecstasy, Marijuana, Methadone, Methamphetamine, Opiates/Morphine, Oxycodone, and Phencyclidine.  For those who are concerned about any client attempts to alter a specimen, the cup is also available with an additional built-in Adulteration test strip

Do you need the same great qualities in a flat-sided cup, allowing you to photocopy test results? They are available in the Twelve Panel Clear Scan Drug Test Cup (CLIA Waived)

Runner Up: Best Instant All-In-One Cup Drug Test

Twelve Panel Drug Screen Cup IV Drug Test (CLIA Waived)

Our long-term customers still clearly prefer our All in One PreScreen Plus Drug Test Cups because of the familiarity with their quality and because they come in so many drug test panel options.

However, for the budget-minded, this newcomer to our line-up of Drug Test Cups is enjoying a following from certain 12 drug testers.  It is FDA Cleared/CLIA waived for Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepine, Buprenorphine, Cocaine, Ecstasy, Marijuana, Methadone, Methamphetamine, Morphine, Oxycodone, and Phencyclidine, but is available in less alternate options than our PreScreen Plus Drug Test Cups and is currently not offered with an Adulteration test panel.  Still, this slightly smaller cup can be a cost-saving option for some purchasers.

 

The Best New Test Product

The NICDetect Oral Cotinine Test (CLIA Exempt)

Smoking causes more deaths than the combined impact of alcohol use, firearm deaths, HIV, illegal drug use, and motor vehicle accidents. And yet, surveys show that smokers notice and want to address the serious impact of the habit, with 69% of those polled wanting to quit smoking, but because nicotine is addictive, they need serious help to kick the habit. The good news is that people who successfully quit smoking can reverse the harmful health effects in the majority of cases, even starting within 48 hours of quitting. (See our Blog)

The NICDetect is an oral Cotinine Test.  Since it is a saliva-based test, it is easier to administer than available urine nicotine tests. Testing for nicotine use should rely on a Cotinine test to verify true nicotine usage.

Nicotine is the basic alkaloid found in tobacco and some plants, even some isolated vegetables. Cotinine is the metabolite that comes from nicotine processing through the body’s organs. Nicotine actually processes out of the body in a matter of hours, whereas cotinine can remain in the system for up to 72 hours.So, cotinine testing helps employers accurately identify who is smoking or using nicotine products, even if the usage doesn’t happen daily. Again, Cotinine is the metabolite that comes from nicotine processing through the body’s organs. As a result, this test also ensures that second hand smoke will not play a role in creating a false positive, since cotinine tests have been formulated to detect only the level of traces that are actually due to personal tobacco or nicotine consumption.

The Best Instant Specialty Drug Test

EtG PreScreen Plus Dip Card Drug Test

There is a new test on the block designed for ETG (Ethyl Glucuronide) testing. 

Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) is a direct metabolite of ethanol alcohol. The presence of EtG in the urine can be used to detect recent alcohol consumption; even after the ethanol alcohol is no longer measurable. Consequently, the presence of EtG in the urine is a definitive indicator that alcohol has been ingested.

Traditional laboratory practices typically measure the amount of alcohol present in the body.  Depending on the amount of alcohol that has been consumed, this method usually reveals alcohol ingestion within the past few hours.

The more recent development of testing for the presence of EtG in the urine, on the other hand, demonstrates that ethanol alcohol was ingested within the past three or four days, or roughly up to 80 hours after the ethanol alcohol has been metabolized by the body.  As a result, it can be determined that a urine alcohol test employing EtG is a more accurate indicator of the recent consumption of alcohol as opposed to simply measuring for the existence of ethanol alcohol.

This “Forensic Use Only” urine dip card has a cutoff concentration of 500 ng/mL. The drug test dip card requires the urine sample to be at room temperature (59-68 F / 15-30 C), before performing a test. The dip card only has to be immersed for 20-30 seconds, which will deliver results in 5 minutes.

The Best Alternative Test Products

The Best Alcohol Saliva Drug Test

Alco Screen 02 Alcohol Saliva Test – D.O.T. Approved, CLIA Waived

Looking for an instant alcohol “screen test” that is approved by the Department of Transportation? The Alco Screen 02 Alcohol Saliva Test – D.O.T. Approved, CLIA Waived testdelivers the convenience of an instant saliva test and has the approvals to provide reliable, accurate results.

This highly sensitive test is a reliable alternative to more expensive testing methods and specialty testing machines and can detect blood alcohol levels in saliva in just four minutes after collection. For a test with FDA 510(K) compliance, CLIA waiver, AND D.O.T. approval, the test surprisingly requires no specialized training or certification to effectively administer the test, making it a perfect choice for instances where an immediate test is required, such as when workers are about to go on site, or when an accident occurs.

Drug Testing administrators will appreciate that these instant saliva tests can be given out at any time or place, and have an impressive shelf life of twelve months, making them a most convenient option to keep in supply for immediate use.

The Best Express Hair Follicle Drug Test

Seven Panel Hair Confirm Drug Test Express

While technically not an “instant” result test, this mail-in hair follicle test is ideal for those looking for a non-fluid means of testing for long-term drug use and super fast turn-around time. Parents who are concerned that their teen may be using drugs will have peace of mind with Hair Confirm. This at-home drug test is extremely accurate and comes with an easy sample collection system and express shipping service to deliver quick results (an average of five business days).

The package comes with one test that can detect drug use for the past 90 days, and detects the following illicit drugs: Amphetamines, Cocaine, Methamphetamines, MDMA (Ecstasy), Opiates, Phencyclidine, and Marijuana. Simply implement a Hair Confirm testing schedule for every three months to maintain your household (or business) as a drug-free zone.

Still not sure what you like best?  Check out our
Best of the Best Instant Drug Test Comparison Table.

Best of the Best

Instant Drug Test Comparison Table 

All Tests Are Easy to Administer and Require No Special Certification

Source:  CDC Data Statistics —  Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htm

Source: From our October blog — Drug abuse in the workplace can cost over $140 billion each year for US business owners, according to the article onWhy Drug Testing is Important for Employers ⁶. From our footnote 6 and this article on this website citing the Department of Justice information https://www.air-prehire.com/background-screening/drug-testing-important-employers/

Source:  An extrapolation of CDC data in its National Vital Statistics Report of 2018 and its Annual Surveillance Report of Drug-Related Risks and Outcomes — extrapolation by the Washington post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/04/10/study-despite-decline-in-prescriptions-opioid-deaths-skyrocketing-due-to-heroin-and-synthetic-drugs/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6fa97e88a46d

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism  https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

Sources: OHS Health and Safety Services Inc. Cost of Drug Testing. Retrieved from http://www.ohsinc.com/info/cost-of-drug-testing/

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). Wilcox, S., Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace. Retrieved from https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/addiction-update/drugs-and-alcohol-in-the-workplace