Drug & Alcohol Testing

 

Drug & Alcohol Testing

Employee drug testing is increasingly being carried out by organisations due to the general recognition that the use of alcohol and other recreational drugs can present a hazard in the workplace. Drug testing may also be useful in pre-employment assessment. The main goals of urine testing include:

  • To improve workplace safety
  • To improve productivity
  • To reduce product/service defects
  • To help employees overcome or modify their patterns of use of such substances

Urine Drug Testing

Drugs are well concentrated and excreted in urine, and testing involves techniques for detecting the various substances in a sample of urine. The collection of the sample and the subsequent laboratory testing is carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 4308:2008.
The following drugs are tested:

  • Cannabinoids (i.e. marijuana)
  • Amphetamine Substances (e.g. speed, ecstasy etc.)
  • Benzodiazepines (valium etc.)
  • Cocaine
  • Opiates (e.g. heroin, morphine)
  • Barbiturates
  • Alcohol (ethanol)
  • Methadone Metabolite
  • Phencyclidine

Urine Collection

Urine for testing may be collected either supervised or witnessed according to the company's OH&S protocol. Supervised collections are standard Healthscope Commercial Pathology policy and are carried out by trained collection staff, in accordance with the AS/NZS 4308:2008. Collection, labeling and transport of the sample are carried out according to strict 'Chain of Custody' protocols as described in National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) guidelines. Chain of Custody documentation and procedures are designed to protect sample integrity and avoid sample tampering and claims of misidentification.

Screening Testing and Confirmation

In accordance with theAS/NZS 4308:2008, the initial laboratory testing is a 'screening test'. Healthscope Commercial Pathology uses the CEDIA technique. The CEDIA immunoassay procedure covers the six main drug classes. The above process has been found to give an accuracy of 97-99%. However, any screening test can give a false positive result on occasion and it is strongly recommended that all positive results be confirmed using a confirmatory Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) test. Screening rechecks can be requested by the referrer, without charge, on the original sample.

On Site Collection Devices

In addition to supplying staff for on site sample collection, Healthscope Commercial Pathology can supply Point of Care (POC) devices for on-the-spot drug and alcohol testing. These kits can test for a wide range of drugs of abuse and are designed for urine based drug testing.

Test Principle for On Site Devices

The kits are based on the principle of an immunochemical reaction between a chemical and the drug or drug metabolites that may be present in the urine. During the test the urine sample migrates up the membrane and combines with the colloidal gold conjugate. When the drug is absent in the sample the coloured antibody binds with an immobilised drug protein to form a visible line in the test region. When the drug is present in sufficient concentration this line becomes invisible as the drug binds with the drug protein. Therefore the presence of a line on the test region indicates a negative result for the drug and the absence of a test line indicates a positive result for the drug.

A visible line generated at the control region of the test strip demonstrates that the test has been performed properly.

Urine Drug Kits

  • Cannabis
  • Amphetamines
  • Methamphetamines
  • Opiates
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Cocaine

Effect of Medications

It is possible that some medications may lead to false positive results in the initial screening test. Staff for whom urine drug testing is requested should be asked to list all prescription and non-prescription medicines and supplements that they may be taking.

Urine Drug Collection Kit

Healthscope Commercial Pathology provides a convenient kit to facilitate urine specimen collection and labeling. The kit consists of a strong plastic transport tube with screw-on lid, two specimen bottles and caps, specimen ID labels, Chain of Custody request form, tamper-proof seals, temperature strip, specimen plastic bag. The kits are suitable for mailing or transport to Healthscope Commercial Pathology laboratories.

LABORATORY SCREENING TEST by Enzyme

Immunoassay (CEDIA)

Drug Classes include:

  • Cannabinoids
  • Alcohol (ethanol)
  • Amphetamine Type Substances
  • Methadone Metabolitev
  • Opiates
  • Cocaine/Metabolites
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Barbiturates

Confirmation: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Note: This is a guide only, as duration of detectability is highly variable

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