Exploring Drug Testing Techniques & the Opportunity for ODT

This blog discusses various drug testing methods, including urine, blood, hair, saliva, sweat, and the innovative Ocular Motor Deception Test (ODT), and how they can be integrated with EyeCanKnow’s Truth Verification Test for more comprehensive drug screening. It highlights the pros and cons of each technique in terms of accuracy, detection window, invasiveness, and cost. The ODT, a non-invasive method that tracks eye movements to detect deception, is explored for its potential use in drug testing, particularly for verifying truthfulness in drug-related questions. Combining traditional drug testing with ODT offers a layered approach to achieving more accurate and reliable results in maintaining a drug-free environment.

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We recently had the opportunity to speak with Lisa Lee from the Genesis Shop, a service provider specializing in drug testing, fingerprinting, background checks, and EyeCanKnow Truth Verification Tests for businesses and individuals throughout the greater Louisville area. Drawing on her 15 years of experience conducting in-office drug testing, our discussion prompted a deeper examination of various drug testing methods and their potential integration with the EyeCanKnow Truth Verification test.

While we previously explored urinary analysis in our white paper, “AI and ML are Changing the Way UA is Used for Accountability in Substance Abuse Rehabilitation,” this blog aims to expand the conversation by examining the range of drug testing techniques available today. These methods vary in terms of accuracy, detection windows, invasiveness, and cost, including the innovative Ocular Motor Deception Testing, the underlying technology behind EyeCanKnow’s VerifEye solution.

1. Urine Testing

  • Description: The most common and non-invasive method, where urine samples are analyzed for drug metabolites.
  • Positives:
    • Widely accepted, easy to administer.
    • Detects recent use (usually up to 3-5 days for most drugs, longer for some).
    • Inexpensive.
  • Negatives:
    • Easy to tamper or dilute.
    • Detection time limited for some substances.
  • Cost: $30 - $60 per test, depending on the drugs screened.

2. Blood Testing

  • Description: Measures the actual drug in the bloodstream, indicating current impairment.
  • Positives:
    • Very accurate, detects recent use and actual impairment.
    • Difficult to tamper with.
  • Negatives:
    • Invasive (requires drawing blood).
    • Short detection window (a few hours to a day for most drugs).
  • Cost: $80 - $200 per test.

3. Hair Testing

  • Description: Hair samples are analyzed for drug metabolites over a longer period (up to 90 days).
  • Positives:
    • Long detection window (90 days or more).
    • Difficult to tamper with or dilute.
  • Negatives:
    • Doesn’t detect recent drug use (within 7-10 days).
    • Higher cost compared to urine tests.
  • Cost: $100 - $150 per test.

4. Saliva Testing

  • Description: Tests drug metabolites in saliva, indicating recent use.
  • Positives:
    • Non-invasive and easy to administer.
    • Detects very recent use (1-2 days).
  • Negatives:
    • Limited detection window compared to urine or hair testing.
    • Susceptible to contamination from food or drink.
  • Cost: $50 - $80 per test.

5. Sweat Testing

  • Description: Uses patches worn on the skin to collect sweat for drug analysis.
  • Positives:
    • Continuous monitoring over an extended period (1-2 weeks).
    • Harder to tamper with than other methods.
  • Negatives:
    • Less commonly used, limited lab facilities for analysis.
    • May cause skin irritation.
  • Cost: $100 - $200 per patch.

6. The Ocular-Motor Deception Test (ODT) 

  • Description: This technology-based lie detection method that uses eye-tracking to measure physiological responses. Instead of focusing on the entire body, it assesses specific eye-related activities to determine if a person is being deceptive. It measures pupil dilation, blink rate, and response times when the subject is questioned. Here’s how it can be adapted to detect drug use:
  • Detecting Drug Use with ODT: In the context of detecting drug use, the ODT can be adapted in the following ways:
    • Specific Drug-Related Questions: The ODT can include direct questions about drug use or indirect questions related to lifestyle and activities. For example:
  1. Direct question: "Have you used marijuana in the last 30 days?"
  2. Indirect question: "Do you frequently spend time in environments where drug use occurs?"
  • Cognitive Effort and Ocular Changes: When individuals lie or try to conceal information, their brain experiences increased cognitive load. This leads to changes in pupil dilation, gaze duration, and reading behavior. The ODT captures these differences.

Positives of Using ODT for Drug Detection:

  • Non-invasive: No biological sample collection is necessary.
  • Automated and Objective: ODT systems use software that records and analyzes eye movements in real time, reducing human bias.
  • Potential for high accuracy: Studies have shown that eye movement and pupil dilation can effectively indicate deception in certain contexts.

Negatives of Using ODT for Drug Detection:

  • Not a direct indicator: Like polygraphs, ODT identifies deception, not direct evidence of drug use.
  • Requires calibration and expertise: ODT equipment needs proper calibration, and the questioning strategy must be well-designed.
  • Not foolproof: Physiological responses vary between individuals, and some may remain calm even while lying.

Effectiveness and Limitations:

The ODT can help identify deception during drug-use questioning but, like a polygraph, it does not directly detect the presence of drugs. Its role is more of a supplementary tool to verify whether a person is being truthful in their responses about drug use.

Summary

Drug testing methods and innovative tools like the Ocular Motor Deception Test offer unique benefits and limitations, each suited to specific needs within the workplace and personal contexts. By combining traditional drug tests with the EyeCanKnow Truth Verification Test, businesses can implement a comprehensive approach to maintaining a drug-free environment while addressing accuracy, detection range, and invasiveness. This layered approach offers a flexible solution that meets varying regulatory and practical requirements in today’s complex landscape of drug screening.  When combined with a comprehensive strategy that includes direct drug testing methods (urine, blood, hair analysis), an ODT can help investigators or employers get a fuller picture of an individual’s behavior and possible substance use.

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