For people who want to have a loved one undergo drug testing or for anyone who just wants to (or has to) go through it, here are some highly important points to take note of. First of all, however, it really is high time for people all across the United States, even the entire world, to put greater importance on the life threatening risks involved when it comes to drugs and substance abuse.

1. Testing: What Works?

As compared to having a drug testing by taking samples of the patient's blood, it is highly recommended that the medical technician use the patient's urine. The urine has been proven to be more reliable when it comes to the detection of any drug abuse. Unfortunately, it also a more expensive kind of drug testing. As an added benefit, it is also gives the clearest results; it is very easy for medical technicians to see whether or not a person has taken drugs into one's system.

One downside of drug testing using urine samples is that it is impossible to accurately say when the patient took the drug. Blood testing is more accurate and this associated information can be derived from a blood sample.

2. Future Techniques: Hair Sampling

Another drug testing technique is through hair testing which is not recommended because a lot of laboratories are finding some difficulty with regards to the reliability of the results especially, as most often than not, drug testing through the hair poses positive results for the patient. A lot of people don't buy into this kind of drug testing since with the simple act of washing one's hair as well as being subjected to other hair contaminants an incorrect reading is possible.

3. Problems With Drug Testing:

- Confirming the reliability of the testing
- Questionable accuracy of hair testing results
- Urine drug testing accuracy highly dependent on how the procedure has been carried out by the medical technician

Unfortunately, most especially during this time wherein more and more people are getting lured into doing drugs as well as other substance abuse, a lot of the clinics that are conducting drug testing all over the United States are not really capable of providing the reliable results that people need due to the rampant mishandling and as well as the improper ways that some clinics conduct their drug testings. Therefore, the top three most reliable aspects that people should need to look for in a drug test for it be considered as reliable: strict collection procedures, proper testing procedures and random notification.