There is also reasonable suspicion drug testing, which can be one of the most challenging aspects of a drug-free workplace program. Random drug testing allows an employer to use a random selection process to select one or more employees in the workplace to submit to a drug test. Random drug testing ensures that your current employees remain drug-free. Abusing drugs can compromise the stability and integrity of your workplace, so pre-employment drug screening is essential in preventing the hiring of people who use drugs. Pre-employment drug testing allows you to make informed decisions about potential employees. Both non-regulated and federally mandated testing is performed at Quest Diagnostics laboratories. Specimen validity testing is performed at Quest, testing for adulterants is important to catch the cheaters. Specimens tested included urine, oral fluid and hair. In fact, businesses with drug-free workplace programs can qualify for worker’s compensation insurance premium discounts, and other government incentives through your state.ĭrug testing at Quest is lab based and testing detects the metabolites of drugs that are ingested. The cost of a simple drug test is minimal when compared to the risks that hiring a drug user can present to your workplace. They help improve productivity by decreasing accidents, downtime, absenteeism, theft and turnover. Drug screening programs are proven to be highly beneficial to businesses and also promote better health among employees and their families, decreasing the use of medical benefits. There are many reasons for drug testing, such as post-accident, return to duty, reasonable suspicion, random and pre-employment. Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get the most up-to-date drug testing information.įor more information about drug testing, visit our website or connect with us online.National Drug Screening works closely with Quest Diagnostics to provide a comprehensive range of instant and onsite drug tests, lab testing (urine, oral fluid and hair) and other programs and services. When complex issues like these arise, we are always willing to assist you to ensure that your donor’s results are accurate. Get started by referencing our Guide to Establishing a Workplace Drug Testing Program.Īt Quest Diagnostics, we understand that it is our responsibility to aid you in making informed drug screening decisions. When a positive result is sent to the Medical Review Officer (MRO), information relating to valid prescriptions or medication use will assist the donor when contacted by the MRO during his/her review and verification of the positive result. This list may serve as a useful reminder to the donor should a justification be required. It is suggested that the donor write a list of these medications on his/her copy of the custody and control form after providing a specimen for a drug screen. It is important that the donor keep a record of any such medications that may affect a drug screen. With the two-tiered testing process and the definitive identification and quantification with GC/MS confirmation, the use of these OTC drugs will not result in a confirmed positive drug test. It is a common misconception that OTC cold medications may produce positive results in workplace drug tests but the fact is that while some of these may cause a specimen to initially screen as non-negative, they will not confirm positive in the second step of the GC/MS testing process. Sympathomimetics like those listed above will not produce a confirmed, positive drug screen. Sympathomimeticsĭrugs such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylephrine are commonly used as decongestants in OTC cold and flu medicines or as appetite suppressants. Donors using medications that contain hydrocodone may test positive in some drug test panels. Unfortunately, it is highly addictive, and when improperly used, hydrocodone can lead to serious illness or injury. It is also an extremely popular drug of abuse as it can produce feelings of euphoria. This narcotic is widely used to treat pain and is also FDA-approved for use in a handful of prescription medications as a cough suppressant. The use of codeine-containing products may result in a positive drug screen for codeine and/or morphine. Both codeine and morphine are used to relieve pain. When codeine enters the body and is metabolized, it changes to morphine. CodeineĬodeine is used in some medications as a cough suppressant. Some common prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications may contain drugs such as codeine, hydrocodone, and sympathomimetics, which have been reported to affect workplace drug tests. Health experts say that this year is on track to be “ one of the worse flu season in decades.” The CDC reported 6.4 million flu illnesses and 55,000 hospitalizations in the U.S.
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