Is Hair Testing Cost-Effective?
CASE STUDY: HAIR VERSUS URINE TESTING
INTRODUCTION
Company ABC is a well-known manufacturer of office furniture. Company ABC has been administering drug testing using a laboratory based urine test to screen job applicants for potential drug abuse. Positive confirmation is performed by a laboratory using GC/MS or Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy.
A study was performed comparing the urine based drug test to a hair based drug test. The purpose of the study was to compare the cost of hair testing versus urine testing. 774 applicants job applicants were tested side by side. Hair and urine samples were collected on the same day from each individual. This study is indicative of a standard manufacturer work-place.
The following data is representative of the results:
Urine vs. Hair
Sample Size = 774
Table 1: Total Drug Positives reported |
|||||
Detection Method |
Drug: |
THC |
Cocaine |
Others |
Total Positives |
Urine Testing |
|
4 |
4 |
13 |
24 |
Hair Testing |
|
65 |
27 |
47 |
139 |
Table 2: Percentage Drug Positives reported |
|||||
Detection Method |
Drug: |
THC |
Cocaine |
Others |
Total Positives |
Urine Testing |
|
0.5% |
0.5% |
1.7% |
2.7% |
Hair Testing |
|
3.5% |
8.4% |
6.1% |
18% |
SUMMARY OF RESULTS: HAIR VS. URINE TESTING
- For every 100 applicants tested, 15 more drug users were identified using hair as compared to urine.
- Hair testing is more effective than urine test for identifying drug-abusing applicants. Hair detects 6.6 times more abusers than urine.
- Hair is more effective in detecting serious drugs such as cocaine. Hair detects 16 times more cocaine users than urine.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
ASSUMPTIONS
- The National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates that each drug abuser costs an employer between $7,000 and $10,000 per year.
- Hair testing costs $53.00 per test (average corporate price. including confirmation of all positives)
- Urine testing costs $30.00 per test (including confirmation)
CALCULATIONS
Assuming the cost of a drug abusing employee is $7,000: |
|
Urine |
|
|
774 screens @ $30/test = |
$23,220 |
|
118 missed positives @ $7,000 = |
$826,000 |
|
Total cost = |
$849,220 |
|
Average cost = $849,220 / 774 = |
$1098.00 per employee |
Hair |
|
Average cost = $53.00 per employee due to no missed positives |
|
CONCLUSIONS
- Hair Testing is the more effective method of promoting a drug-free workplace.
- Drug screening applicants using hair instead of urine can potentially save a company $103,000 to $148,000 per 100 employees tested.
