Due to the common practice these days of many employers instituting drug policies, the practice of testing at home for the presence of substances in the system is gaining interest steadily. Random tests at the workplace are used as a deterrent to drug use on the job.

This is not the only reason that many people are using drug test kits in their home. Alcohol and drug abuse is a concern for many parents who are worried about the influence of substance abuse among their children. Family members of those who have had a history of drug or alcohol abuse may also be concerned enough to take steps in helping to deal with this problem.

Preventative steps can be taken in the privacy and security of the home to address these issues. Whether it is a parent who feels the need to reassure themselves that their child is drug-free or it is a concerned family member who is trying to help someone maintain a life without using substances, drug test kits can be a valuable tool.

Most drug test kits approach this issue in four different ways, using a saliva sample, testing a hair follicle and using two different methods to test the urine. All but one of these tests can produce results that are available within just minutes. Only one of these, the hair follicle test, must be sent to a CLIA certified laboratory to determine drug levels in the body.

These four types of drug test kits are considered non-intrusive, which means that there are no needles used to obtain a sample to be tested. This fact can alleviate the reservations a person might have against taking the test, and can also make it much easier to institute a regular testing program in the home.

The saliva drug test kits require only a sample directly from the mouth or from a container, which is placed in a collection spoon. Results from this test are ready in as little as five minutes. This method tests for four different drugs used in the past 24 hours.

The urine drug test kits use two methods. There are up to ten different drugs that can be tested for, which determines which of the urine drug test kits to be used. Both of these methods will test for any indication of drug use in the past 72 to 84 hours.

The first method uses a cassette which is placed in a cup that contains the sample and provides results in five minutes. The second urine test provides a self-contained collection cup with the drug sensor built in. This kit also has a temperature sensor that confirms whether or not the sample is at body temperature.

The hair follicle drug test kits require the sample to be sent in a pre-paid envelope to the certified laboratory. A variety of substances can be tested for and this test can detect any drug use for the previous three months. The results are confidential since they can only be viewed by the one who has sent in the sample.

These drug test kits are easily obtainable, and will help to reassure parents and family members who have concerns about their loved ones health.