The purpose of this article is to provide you with an overview of three types of pre-employment tests that are important to employers and employees.
Drug Screening Test
Drug screening tests are used to detect drugs in the body. These tests are done before hiring someone to work at a company. A drug screen may consist of urine testing, hair testing, blood testing, saliva testing, etc. Urine testing is the most commonly used method. In order to pass a drug screening test, a person would have to provide a clean sample. If they do not provide a clean sample, then they would fail the test. There are many different types of drug screens. One type of drug screen is called a urinalysis (UA). An UA looks for specific substances in the urine. Examples of these substances are marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, phencyclidine, PCP, alcohol, and nicotine. Another type of drug screen is a hair follicle test. Hair follicles are small pieces of skin that hold hairs together. Hair follicles are located near the scalp. When a person takes drugs, their bodies break down the drugs and release them into the bloodstream. Once the drugs enter the bloodstream, they travel throughout the body and eventually end up in the hair follicles. Hair follicles collect the drugs and store them inside until they shed off. Hair follicles can be tested to find out if a person has been using illegal drugs. Blood tests are also used to detect drugs. Blood tests look for specific substances in the blood. Saliva tests are also used to determine if a person has taken illegal drugs. Saliva tests look for specific substances that are released from the mouth. Examples of these substances included in saliva tests are THC, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
Background Check
Background checks are conducted to determine whether a person has any criminal history. If they do have a record, then they may not get hired. Background checks may be performed by employers or potential employees. Employers usually perform background checks on new hires. Potential employees usually conduct their own background check. Background checks may involve checking court records, police reports, driving records, credit reports, social security numbers, immigration status, and other information. The purpose of conducting a background check is to make sure that the person will not cause harm to themselves or others.
Physical Exam
Physical exams are performed to check for physical defects. If a candidate has a medical condition that could affect their job performance, then they may not be able to work. For example, if a candidate has asthma, then they should inform an employer about this condition. They should also tell the employer how often they need to use their inhaler. If a candidate does not disclose a medical condition, then it may result in being fired. Physical exams may include: vision exam, hearing exam, heart exam, lung exam, kidney exam, liver exam, thyroid exam, neurological exam, brain scan, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, EKG, blood pressure measurement, pulse rate, weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, blood glucose level, cholesterol level, triglyceride level, hemoglobin A1C level, and other tests.
For more information and assistance with pre-employment testing, visit pcpworks.com
