About Drug Swab Test in NZ

Drug and alcohol use in New Zealand has brought many adverse outcomes to personal health and the community. Different drug types have varying effects on the central nervous system. Likewise, high levels of alcohol lead to severe impairment of the senses, perception, judgment, and motor skills. Therefore, they can pose maximum safety risks when driving or operating heavy pieces of equipment. Substance impairment is also a leading cause of road crashes and workplace accidents. Because of this, more places execute a drug swab test in NZ. Law enforcement will typically perform roadside inspections to identify if a driver is impaired. For example, a breathalyser test can determine a person’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). The BAC is the percentage of alcohol in the blood, indicating the level of intoxication. Meanwhile, a swab drug test can detect illegal drugs in the system through mouth swabs. 

Drug Swab Test in NZ Workplaces

The workplace is also one of the critical areas prone to impairment-related accidents. Drug and alcohol abuse costs the economy billions of dollars every year. As a result, many companies implement alcohol and drug testing through a workplace policy. An effective policy can help lower the cost resulting from lost productivity, absenteeism, legal and healthcare expenses. It also aims to counter the harmful effects of substance impairment. A standard procedure for identifying impairment is through a drug swab test in NZ workplaces. A mouth swab test is an effective screening tool to detect the recent use of illicit substances in the system. Moreover, it can detect the following:

• Ethanol
• Amphetamines
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines
• Cocaine
• Marijuana
• MDMA
• Methamphetamine
• Opiates
• Oxycodone

Drug Swab Test in NZ: How does it work?

A drug swab test in NZ workplaces is common among high-risk industries. For example, mining, construction, transportation, aviation, and manufacturing rely on regular alcohol and drug testing. Recently, more workplaces have used a drug swab test because it is convenient and less invasive. It is a low-cost and straightforward method that can offer instant feedback. In case of an accident, a swab test is suitable to get a biological sample for analysis. Additionally, a swab or oral fluid test can detect most substances in a 5 to 48-hour time frame. The collection uses a swab stick with an attached sponge or absorbent pad. The stick is swabbed on the inside of the cheek or under the tongue. Other methods include spitting or draining to gather saliva. 

A drug swab test in NZ can be done on-site or in a laboratory. Most workplace testing happens on-site through a mobile drug unit. An on-site drug swab test delivers the result within minutes. However, if the sample goes to a laboratory for examination, it takes 24 hours to get the results. If the initial test yields a non-negative result, a confirmation test follows through. The confirmation test can be done through blood sampling. In particular, the blood test is the most accurate test of all procedures. However, its invasive nature, time, and costs make it only suitable for confirming positive preliminary screening test results. A medical review officer verifies the laboratory analysis and provides the final feedback. 

Effectivity of a Drug Screenings

Like all other testing procedures, a drug swab test in NZ workplaces is accurate if it is executed correctly. Drugs do not remain in saliva as they do in urine. As a result, this method is more effective in screening for recent use. Different kinds of drugs having varying detectable times in our saliva. Additionally, using mouthwash or drinking water does not affect the results of a drug swab test. Since the sample collection is in plain view, it is hard to circumvent the results. To prevent food substances from interfering with the results, the mouth must remain empty for ten minutes prior to testing. However, various factors can affect the accuracy of the test such as:

• Type of drug swab test – instant oral fluid testing kit or laboratory test
• Drug type
• Quantity of the drug or concentration
• The skill of the test administrator
• The testing facility – if sample analysis happens on-site or in-lab
• Detection window of a specific drug
• If saliva flow is stimulated

Benefits and Limitations of Drug Swab Test in NZ

A drug swab test in NZ can help in the early detection of substance use in the workplace. It is more convenient than a urine test since you can gather samples easily. It is painless, and you can provide oral fluid readily. Furthermore, the collector ensures that the samples are not tampered with. Unfortunately, a drug swab test comes with a few limitations. Notably, it has a shorter detection period than a urine or blood test. The person may abstain for a few days off preceding the test date and return to use after. In addition, certain medications can interfere with the accuracy of the test results. Furthermore, it is also worth noting that some drugs are not detectable through a swab drug test. 

A drug swab test in NZ workplaces is efficient for initial drug screening. However, there is still a long way to go to ensure its validity like a urine and blood test. Moreover, alcohol and drug tests significantly reduce workplace incidents. It helps deter substance use and promote safe and healthy practices. The effective implementation of workplace policy improves productivity, lowers costs, and boost employee morale. Through reliable devices and testing methods, you can maintain a hazard-free environment. You may get drug test kits in pharmacies for rapid testing. Likewise, a breathalyser efficiently screens alcohol in the breath. The breathalysers from Breathalysers New Zealand have pro-grade accuracy suitable for workplace or high-volume applications. 

Alcohol Breath Tests

A breathalyser device is a cost-efficient method for alcohol screening. It is non-invasive, quick, and easy to use. You may use a breathalyser and drug swab test in NZ to maintain workplace safety. Companies would regularly provide alcohol and drug tests during pre-employment, random, blanket, post-incident, reasonable suspicion, and post-treatment workplace testing. A workplace breathalyser from Breathalysers New Zealand is suitable for all kinds of workplace tests. The BACtrack workplace breathalysers have fuel cell sensors to give the highest precision for a breath screening device. Furthermore, they have a one-touch system for quick and easy operations. Anyone who wants to check their alcohol level can use a breathalyser. 

Using the BACtrack breathalyser with drug swab test in NZ workplaces helps effectively manage safety risks. Drug testing in oral fluid and breath alcohol tests are also the common procedures conducted in roadside screenings. The BACtrack Mobile Gen2, S80 Pro Gen2, and Alcovisor Mercury from Breathalysers New Zealand are all suitable devices for workplace testing. They feature an enlarged fuel cell sensor that can completely trace BAC ranges from 0.00 up to 0.400%. Therefore, it can detect even the smallest BAC that can harm the work environment. When it comes to safety, you can trust the devices from Breathalysers New Zealand.