What Kinds of Drug Tests Can Employers Conduct in North Carolina?
Under North Carolina law, employers have access to several drug testing methods, including testing urine, blood, oral fluid (saliva), or hair samples. These apply to safety-sensitive positions or during follow-up testing plans.Â
Urine tests are the most common as they can spot drugs used in the past few days. Most drugs clear the system within 3–5 days, except THC, which can stay longer (up to 30 days for frequent users).Â
Hair tests show drug use over a much longer time and can detect substances up to 90 days after use. Because of this, they’re used when employers want to see patterns of repeated use, not just one-time use.Â
Saliva tests (oral fluid) check for very recent drug use—within the last 1 to 2 days. They’re fast, easy, and used on the spot. You’ll often see these used in roadside stops, post-accident testing, or for immediate workplace concerns.
The substances commonly detected include:
- cocaine,Â
- methadone,Â
- opioids or opiates,Â
- barbiturates,Â
- cannabis,Â
- phencyclidine,Â
- amphetamines,Â
- methamphetamines,Â
- and benzodiazepines.
Employers typically test before hiring (if they choose to), after workplace incidents, or in random programs.Â