Lab Drug Tests vs. Home Drug Tests

When considering drug testing options, knowledge of the differences between home and lab tests is useful for finding the ideal solution.

Home drug tests

Home drug tests have one substantial advantage over lab tests; these types of drugs tests are very affordable. Home drug tests are not advantageous when the tester does not know what specific kinds of drugs they are looking for, since home drugs tests are manufactured to look for a very narrow selection of drugs. Also, using a home test on a family member or loved one may damage the relationship between you and this other person, should he or she perceive a home test as a violation of trust and rights.

Lab drug tests

Lab drug testing is more expensive than a home test; however, these types of tests are ideal in a situation where it is beneficial to have an impartial third party. Lab tests do not deliver results as quickly as home tests, but do search for a larger number of drugs. Lab tests find results a single home test does not have the capability to discover. A final advantage of a lab test is that the presence of a tester who has dealt with substance abuse in the past provides you with a number of resources for helping any addicted persons find the help they need to treat a substance dependency.

Learn more about the comparisons between home and lab tests. Though more expensive, a laboratory drug test delivers results regarding a larger number of frequently abused drugs.