Workplace Drug Testing Starter Bundle

The Workplace Drug Testing Starter Bundle is designed for UK employers who are new to workplace drug testing and want a convenient way to get started. It brings together essential drug testing products to help businesses begin an employee drug screening programme.

We generally recommend urine drug testing as a starting point for employers who are new to workplace drug testing because urine tests are straightforward to administer, cost-effective and have a longer detection window than saliva tests for many drugs. This makes urine testing particularly useful for pre-employment screening and general workplace drug testing.

Saliva testing can also be an excellent choice, particularly when you need to identify more recent drug use. However, it can be slightly more complicated to administer and has a shorter detection window. The right choice ultimately depends on your workplace, drug and alcohol policy and what you are trying to detect.

Saliva testing is faster, less invasive, easier to supervise, and better suited to detecting recent drug use in workplace environments.

Yes, saliva drug testing is less invasive, easier to supervise, and can be done without the need for private bathroom facilities.

The detection window for drugs in urine can vary widely between individuals depending on several factors, including the type of drug, the amount of drug used, the route the drug is administered, the frequency of use, the individual's metabolism, body mass, age, hydration level, and overall health.

Here are some general detection windows for common drugs in urine:

Amphetamines : 1-3 days.

Benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Xanax): 3-7 days for occasional use, up to 4-6 weeks for chronic use.

Cannabis (THC): How long Cannabis can be detected in urine very much depends on the amount and frequency of use and the build of the individual. Below is a guide

Single Cannabis use: 1-3 days.

Moderate Cannabis use (4 times/week): 5-7 days.

Chronic Cannabis use (daily): 10-15 days.

Heavy chronic Cannabis use (multiple times/day): 30+ days.

Cocaine: 2-4 days.

Heroin: 2-3 days.

LSD: 1-3 days.

MDMA (Ecstasy): 2-4 days.

Methadone: 3-4 days.

It's important to note that these are general guidelines. Individual results can vary, and certain drug tests may have different sensitivities and cut-off levels that can affect detection times. Additionally, some drugs are metabolised into other compounds that may be detected for different periods.

More information on detection times for drugs in urine and saliva here

The drugs detected will depend on the particular test included in your chosen bundle. Workplace drug tests are available with different drug panels, allowing employers to select tests covering the substances most relevant to their workplace and drug and alcohol policy.

Rapid workplace drug tests are designed as screening tests and can provide an initial indication of whether a drug or drug metabolite may be present. If a result is non-negative, further laboratory confirmation should be obtained before taking disciplinary action based on the result, which is why each of our workplace starter bundles includes at least one lab pack.

Yes. Workplace urine drug testing is commonly used for pre-employment screening. Employers should ensure that drug testing is included within a clear workplace drug and alcohol policy and that the testing procedure is applied fairly and consistently.

Yes. Workplace drug testing can form part of a random testing programme where this is appropriate for the business and is covered by the company's drug and alcohol policy.

It depends on what you want your workplace testing programme to achieve. Urine testing generally provides a longer detection window and is a cost-effective option for employers, while saliva testing is useful when the focus is on detecting more recent drug use.

If you are unsure which type of test is suitable for your business, our team can help you choose.

A rapid workplace drug test is a screening test rather than a laboratory confirmation. If a screening test result is non-negative, the sample should be sent for appropriate laboratory confirmation before any disciplinary decision is made on the basis of the result.

Employers should have a clear drug and alcohol testing policy explaining when and why testing may take place, and employees should provide informed consent where required. Workplace drug testing should be relevant to the role, justified by legitimate business and health and safety requirements, and carried out fairly and confidentially.

Download employee consent forms here

Yes. We recommend putting a clear workplace drug and alcohol policy and testing procedure in place before beginning employee drug testing. Your policy should explain who may be tested, when testing can take place, what happens following a non-negative result and how results and personal information will be handled.

Yes. If you are new to workplace drug testing and are unsure which tests to choose or how to introduce testing, our team can help you select appropriate testing products and understand the different testing options.