Drug testing is an important step in the hiring process, and in many cases, in continuing employment. The more you know about the testing process and requirements, the better prepared you are to administer the process for your company. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” So what should you be prepared for?
For all drug screens the following information will be helpful for your candidates or employees:
· Call the lab ahead of time to confirm if an appointment is required and what their collection times are (there are occasions when the websites are not up to date).
· Bring a picture ID.
· Do not fill in any information on hard copy chain of custody forms until instructed to do so at the collection site.
· Be prepared to stay at the collection site until a sample, with enough quantity, is provided. This usually is not a long time, but someone with a shy bladder can be there for up to three hours.
· Any required retesting should be completed within 24 hours of notification to the subject.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Drug Screens
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revised their mandatory guidelines earlier this year for drug testing programs in the Federal Workplace. You can find detailed information here. FAQ’s are available here.
While a new federal form has been approved, the new chain of custody forms have not yet been printed, so continue to use your current forms “until further notice from DOT’s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance.”
Hard copy chain of custody (COC) forms are usually required for DOT tests, but some locations now accept electronic forms. Check with your provider for more information on COC form requirements.
Hair Drug Screens
Hair drug tests provide a longer history of drug use than other types of testing, and the collection is done under supervision, so it is difficult to cheat on hair tests.
Inform your subject that a hair test is required, and that about a half-inch of hair will be collected. Typically hair is collected from the head, in the crown area. The hair is cut as close to the scalp as possible. If the subject has little or no hair, body hair may be collected. It is important to verify with the collection site if they conduct collections other than head hair when necessary.
In cases where a person has no head or body hair, such as someone with Alopecia, you will want to have an alternative process available. One such process could be to use urinalysis and send the subject for a follow-up test in six months since the urinalysis does not give the length of history that the hair test provides.
Urine Drug Tests
Urine drug tests are the most commonly used tests. There are many options for urinalysis:
5 panel rapid 5 panel 7 panel
9 panel 10 panel DOT
The subject will have to provide a designated amount of specimen for testing. The specimen will be tested for temperature as well as for the specified drugs. If the specimen is not in the designated range for temperature they will have to go back for another test. If the second test is within the range, both samples will be sent to the lab and testing/results will be based off of the second sample.
Have a plan for tests that come back with the results of “negative - diluted specimen.” Will you accept this result as passing, have the person retested, or consider that a failed test.
Know policy and requirements for drug testing from both the government (when applicable) and your company, have a contingent plan for necessary exceptions to the policy and for results other than negative, and you will be prepared.
Sources: Quest - https://blog.employersolutions.com, Office of Dr. Paul Taynor, MRO