• Drug testing is a necesary tool when screening for quality employees.Cannabis leaf image by Catabu from Fotolia.com
  
  The state of North Dakota requires mandatory drug testing for all applicants seeking employment. These tests are performed before an offer of employment is extended to ensure that responsible, quality employees are chosen. The type of drug testing procedures used may vary by department. These tests check for illegal drugs, such as opiates, amphetamines and THC, the chemical component found in marijuana.
  
  

Urine Drug Testing

• The minimum test required for employment with some North Dakota government agencies is a urine screening. Applicants supply a urine sample in a supervised lab environment. Once the sample is obtained, a laboratory tests the urine for illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates and amphetamines. Urine tests can also detect the presence of various prescription drugs, so it is necessary to disclose any prescription drugs you are taking before the test.
  
  

Saliva Drug Tests

• Saliva drug tests are just as accurate as urine tests and involve taking a simple swab from the inside the applicant's cheek. The sample is then tested for a variety of drugs. Some labs prefer saliva tests over urine drug screens---it's impossible to try to substitute the sample with another person's saliva because a lab technician directly swabs the cheek.
  
  

Hair Follicle Tests

• Hair follicle testing is perhaps the most advanced of all because the presence of drugs stays in the hair follicle much longer than in blood or urine. As a result, accurate lab testing can detect the presence of narcotics in the hair from usage that occurred from as long as 90 days ago. It is also impossible to substitute a hair follicle sample as opposed to a urine sample, as it is obtained directly from the lab professional. The process is simple and painless---a strand of hair is removed from the head of the applicant, then tested for the presence of drugs.