AccuDiagnostics

Random Drug Tests

Random drug testing is one way to test employees and help keep the workplace drug free. Since employees will have no idea when or if they will be drug tested throughout the year, this will deter employees from using drugs. By randomly testing workers, they will not feel like they were singled out and it’s a fair way to do drug testing.

For businesses with only a couple workers, they can join a consortium, which is a partnership of companies to put their employees in a pool for drug testing. This will allow the businesses to participate in a random drug testing program and their employees will not know when they will be required to do a drug test. AccuDiagnostics provides consortium services. They will maintain the testing schedule, will conduct the random testing scheduling and perform the drug tests.

The frequency of random drug testing is set by the Department of Transportation (DOT) Agency. Requirements for testing could be 50% for drug testing and 10% for alcohol testing, which means a business with 100 employees 50 workers would need to be drug tested and 10 would have to be alcohol tested. Setting up a random testing pool, the employees tested will depend on their job function and not their job title. DOT requires all safety-sensitive workers to be tested. Those workers, who are non-DOT employees, need to test in a separate pool from DOT workers.

Some tips on conducting a successful random drug testing program. Schedule testing dates in a non-predictable pattern, this can be accomplished by spreading the testing dates throughout the year. The time of day and day of the week when random tests are scheduled should be different for each testing date. Random drug tests should be conducted anytime employees are working or performing a safety sensitive job. In order to keep the drug testing random, only a select number of people should have knowledge of those workers that have been selected. Privacy of those being tested should be provided by the employer. Remember, employers should document everything (numbers, names drawn, dates and times of notification, dates and times of collections, etc.) about the random testing process.

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Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.