Drug Testing

Accu-Screen is affiliated with a network of national laboratories that provide testing for legal and illegal drug usage. All testing is conducted through NIDA, DOT and HRS certified facilities and meets current Federal and State Drug-Free Workplace requirements. Additionally, we conduct previous employment drug test verifications as required by the FAA and the Department of Transportation.

Accu-Screen can help you set up as a Drug-Free Workplace.
Call us at 800-689-2228 to find out how.

Drug Testing Is Smart, Whether You Are a Government Agency or a Privately-Owned Business

It used to be that people could be trusted to come to work in a condition suitable for performing their duties. We all know how tough times are right now. The economy seems to be foremost on everyone’s minds, but other stressors exist such as rising unemployment rates, family crises and marital issues, caring for aging parents, lack of medical insurance, and mounting debt.  The way that some people handle these matters is to simply escape from them altogether: they get high. How does this affect your bottom line as an employer? Whether the person works behind a desk or drives a semi-truck, it is an unnecessary risk to employ people who engage in drug use.

Drug testing is a service, provided by Accu-Screen, where the applicant is asked to leave a urine sample at a local laboratory. Illicit drugs such as amphetamines, opiates, cannabinoids, phencyclidine, and cocaine can be detected in even the smallest amounts through a person’s urine; some can even be traced if used in the last 30 days. Although testing is not a requirement of most privately-owned companies, they have the right to test for illegal substances. Many local and state government jobs have laws that limit or even prohibit testing in the workplace except where the job requires testing as mandated by state or Federal regulations. These are guidelines that were established in 1988 under the “Drug-Free Workplace Act”.  It is for these reasons that employers should familiarize themselves with the proper information before putting together a testing program.

When drug testing is performed by Federal or state agencies, guidelines and standardized procedures must be followed as set forth by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  For example, a Medical Review Officer (MRO) has to analyze the tests. Another guideline is that they must screen for the five most commonly abused substances, as described above. A third standard set forth by law is that a SAMHSA-approved laboratory must be used. For private employers, these guidelines are not a requirement by law but should serve as recommendations to help keep companies on solid legal ground should the issue be challenged in court. Whether your business is government- or privately-owned, Accu-Screen has you covered with quick and accurate drug testing services as well as easy-to-read reports.

In the private sector, it is usually permitted for non-union companies to require an applicant to take a drug test. Should drug testing programs be a part of the hiring process, employers are advised to consult a lawyer to be sure that they are following state and local laws as well as preparing their programs for legal challenges, should they arise. In the case of a unionized workplace, all union members must be informed of the intention to require drug testing and then the company must negotiate with the labor union. Bargaining must be a part of the negotiation process, even when Federal law requires the testing. This is because particular portions of policy implementation must be agreed upon prior to the testing program being instituted.