Drug & Alcohol Testing
It’s wise to implement a drug testing policy in your workplace. Published research shows workers are less likely to use drugs if a workplace has a drug testing policy in place. Perhaps you’re new at this and need help designing a workplace drug and alcohol testing policy? Whatever your need, Test Smartly Labs is here to provide expertise, guidance and support to get accurate and reliable results you need.
Drug & Alcohol Testing Services
Test Smartly Labs Testing Centers offer the most advanced and accurate drug and alcohol testing available in the industry. If you need testing done at your workplace, a government agency, or for personal health reasons, turn to Test Smartly Labs. You can count on us! We offer on-site testing and mobile testing with immediate screen results. Our Greater Kansas City labs are sanitary and sparkling clean. And, our certified collectors, and 5,000+ collection partners throughout the United States, are experienced and abide by stringent standards of discretion and accuracy. Whatever your drug and alcohol testing needs may be, Test Smartly Labs’ Testing Centers can help.
Why Drug & Alcohol Testing is Essential
It is wise to implement a drug testing policy in your workplace. Published research shows that workers are less likely to use drugs if a workplace has a drug testing policy in place. Test Smartly Labs can help provide expertise, guidance, and support in designing a workplace drug and alcohol testing policy, as well as partnering with your organization in carrying out the testing for you and your company.
In order to develop a drug-free workplace and ensure the safety and productivity of employers and employees, drug and alcohol testing is essential. Here are just a few of the benefits:
A Safer Workplace: It is a fact that employees using drugs pose a threat to others in the workplace. This is particularly true for safety-sensitive tasks, including dealing with risky chemicals, running heavy machinery, etc. Accidents can happen if your employee is using drugs.
Boosts Staff Morale: Having a drug screening policy within your workplace shows how dedicated you are to your employees by offering a safe and secure working environment. It can enhance the morale among staff, which is a very positive thing for any company. Reductions have also been shown in employee theft by curbing the likelihood of drug abusers in the workplace.
Deters Drug Use: The possibility of conducting random tests is definitely a deterrent, and many users will think twice before using drugs if they care about their careers or jobs.
Reduces Absenteeism and Improves Productivity: Studies have shown that drug testing in the workplace can reduce absenteeism, improve wellness and thus improve productivity and profitability.
Information On This Topic
Understanding Drug Testing Types, Methods And Specimen Collection
Examining the wide assortment of drug testing options available and exploring the potential pros and cons of each method
There are several reasons or circumstances that can lead to the necessity of a drug test.
Prescription Drug Abuse: Signs, Symptoms And Statistics
Prescription drug abuse implies taking prescription medication was not given to you by the doctor, or taking your prescription medication in a manner that differs from the instructions. While taking prescription medication is not perceived as equivalent to taking illegal street drugs, the consequences can be equally harsh.
Understanding Lab-Based Drug Testing Vs. Instant Drug Screening
Exploring the potential benefits, flaws, and results of drug screening options
The process and specifics related to drug screening can be overwhelming and intimidating to even the most seasoned employer, lawyer, law enforcement officer, or civilian. Drug screening is utilized for a variety of reasons, ranging from supporting a loved one in recovery, to court appointed mandate, to safety precautions for a job. Regardless the reason, understanding the specifics and ramifications of different testing methods, as well as their pros and cons, can be vital in choosing the right test for the scenario. One of the single most important decisions when administering any drug screening is whether to utilize a lab-based screening or an instant drug screening test.
According to a 2015 report published by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),
“Combined data from 2008 to 2012 indicate that an annual average of 8.7% of full-time workers aged 18 to 64 used alcohol heavily in the past month, 8.6% used illicit drugs in the past month, and 9.5% were dependent on or abused alcohol or illicit drugs in the past year.”
A National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported,
“73% percent of all current drug users aged 18 and older (8.3 million adults) were employed in 1997. This includes 6.7 million full-time workers and 1.6 million part-time workers.”
We have experience testing in a multitude of industries and purposes, including but not limited to:
- Small & Medium Sized Businesses
- Industries
- Transportation
- Manufacturing
- Service Industry
- Medical
- Judicial Testing
- Court Ordered Testing
As a verified collection site, Test Smartly Labs meets all security requirements and the specifications required for us to collect for this test.
Be prepared for your drug test:
- Bring your Government Issued Picture ID
- Bring Drug Test Paperwork or Authorization
- Complete TSL Intake Form & HIPAA Disclosure
- Pay for your Test on the same day it happens
- Make sure you are hydrated if you are performing a Urine Test
- Expect to have your nail polish removed if getting a Nail Drug Test
- We do not need your prescription information but a Medical Review Officer (MRO) may contact you after collection to verify your medications.
- For urine testing, plan on arriving 3 hours before we close (1 hr minimum) to provide a cushion of time for a shy bladder situation.
- For hair testing, be sure to dry your hair completely before arriving.
- For nail testing, be sure to clean your nails with soap and water before arriving. Also, artificial nails and polish must be removed.
What Are Your Hours?
All Test Smartly Labs are open Monday through Friday, from 9am - 5pm
The Overland Park Testing Center is also open from 9am – 1pm on Saturdays
Do We Need To Have An Appointment?
No appointment is required to come into our labs, and all of our locations are on a walk-in basis. However, it is recommended you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing. If your situation requires special time considerations, please call us to determine if it would be better to arrange an appointment time.
Do I Need Doctors’ Orders For Testing?
No doctors’ orders needed, we are a Direct-Access Testing Center. You are encouraged to consult your medical professional with your lab test results.
What’s The Turnaround Time For Lab Work?
Average turnaround time is 2-5 business days depending on the complexity of the lab work. Most tests are available in 2-3 days.
Do You Need A List Of My Medications For A Drug Test?
Per protocol, the lab techs are not allowed to receive or ask for your medications. A medical review officer or MRO, a licensed physician who specializes in toxicology, will call you and ask for your medications and your physician’s phone number if it’s detected in your sample during testing. The MRO will then call your physician to verify your medications.
The Benefits of Onsite Drug & Alcohol Testing
On-site drug testing is becoming very popular and is the most efficient approach to perform drug tests at the workplace. Companies will avoid the inconvenience and cost of sending employees off-site. There are other benefits too:
Saves Time: Employees won’t need to take valuable time from their work schedule for testing; they can work longer, be more productive, and won’t need to be paid for idle work time or take personal time to go off-site for screening.
Saves Money: Businesses will minimize the loss of work productivity and its related profitability impact that can be linked with off-site drug and alcohol screening. You also won’t need to reimburse employees for transportation expenses for sending them to an off-site location.
Bulk Testing: You have the ability to screen everyone in your company at the same time. This keeps the entire procedure short and sweet.
Cleaner and Easier: The tests done by Test Smartly Labs can use the Instant Screen Cups; the drug screen is self-contained within the cup, which includes a temperature strip as well as clear results. This means the test administrations don’t have to deal with loose urine.
The Risks of Not Drug Testing
To put things in perspective, here are a few of the risks of not testing for drugs and alcohol abuse in the workplace:
Absenteeism, being late regularly, and even illness, which will lead to reduced productivity.
Accidents and injuries in the workplace are more common when employees are afflicted with an altered state of mind due to drug or alcohol abuse.
Loss of focus and poor concentration from a preoccupation with obtaining drugs or alcohol and the unhealthy lifestyle that comes with these behaviors. A person’s psychological performance is affected by long-term use of drugs and alcohol. Engaging in these illegal activities can become contagious and breed resentment in the workplace, creating an unproductive and unhappy environment.
Our Comprehensive Testing Methodologies
At Test Smartly Labs, we offer comprehensive testing methodologies and understand the importance and need for each method. Ultimately, the drug screening method you choose to utilize depends entirely on the potential outcome, what you are looking for, and what you intend to do with the information after testing. All methods have drawbacks and benefits, and we can help you choose the drug screen method that is best for your specific purpose.
Understanding the Difference Between Methods
Before you decide on which method to use, you need to ask a few important questions:
Why are you testing?
Some methods are better suited for identifying long-term drug use, or to give a recent history, some tests need adulteration, and others are operated on an honor system.
How soon do you need results?
Depending on your timeline, different methods might suit your needs better. An in-depth examination can take up to two weeks, while a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer can be given immediately.
Will the result be used in a court of law?
Not all drug tests are considered equal in the courtroom.
Which drugs are you testing for?
Knowing what drugs you’re looking for will help inform which test to use, as some drugs have a rapid metabolism rate, and non-mainstream drugs may need a different method to mainstream drugs.
What’s the likelihood of tampering?
Some tests have a significantly higher rate of manipulation and meddling.
Five Common Methods in Drug Screening and Testing
- Urine Drug Testing
- Saliva/Oral Fluid Drug Testing
- Hair Follicle Drug Testing
- Nail (Fingernail or Toenail) Drug Testing
- Blood Drug Testing
This is the most popular drug testing method. It is very flexible and can be done on- or off-site, observed or not, lab-based or instant or in-lab or mobile, and test for one of the widest varieties of drugs. Lab-based testing is the only Federally accepted testing option and admissible in a court of law. Typical timeframe for most drugs is 48-72 hours before testing.
Common drugs tested include: Marijuana, MDA, MDMA, cocaine, barbiturates, amphetamines, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates (such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and chemicals indicative of heroin use such as 6-acetyl morphine), as well as alcohol and nicotine.
Saliva, the second most utilized drug screening process, is collected through a mouth swab test and is either sent to a lab or tested instantly. No eating or drinking should take place for 10-15 minutes before the test. This method is difficult to meddle with and observed directly but not effective in identifying long-term drug use.
Typical timeframe is roughly one hour to two days after use, the shortest window of all methods.
Common drugs tested include: Marijuana, cocaine, barbiturates, ecstasy, amphetamines, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates (such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and chemicals indicative of heroin use such as 6-acetyl morphine), PCP (phencyclidine), as well as alcohol and nicotine.
This is the best method for identifying long-term drug use while reducing the risk of substitution or adulteration. An administrator cuts about 100-150 strands of hair and sends them to a lab for testing for drug use within the previous three months. Drug use within the 15 days prior to testing will not be detected.
Typical timeframe does not include 15 days prior to testing, as the hair follicle is the slowest to metabolize drugs.
Common drugs tested include: Marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates (such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and chemicals indicative of heroin use such as 6- acetyl morphine), PCP (phencyclidine), ecstasy, as well as alcohol and nicotine.
This is a good method for identifying long-term drug usage that extends beyond the standard hair follicle’s timeframe, which only examines the last 90 days. There is no chance of adulteration as it is professionally collected. This is often used for custody or legal proceedings or other circumstances where long-term use needs to be identified or discounted. Typical timeframe is 2-8 months from testing.
Common drugs tested include: Marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates (such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and chemicals indicative of heroin use such as 6-acetyl morphine), PCP (phencyclidine), ecstasy, as well as alcohol and nicotine.
The most invasive method, but also the method with the least risk for adulteration or substitution. While also the most expensive testing options, this testing method is typically used only in circumstances where active use and consumption need to be determined. Usually only used by law enforcement or if large sums of money are at stake in a legal scenario. Typical timeframe is extremely short, identified within the first few minutes of consumption, and can last up to 6 hours.
DOT Qualifications
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and U.S. Coast Guard have regulations that require certain employers to comply with the standard drug and alcohol testing rules. These transportation workers include: pilots, truck drivers, subway operators, ship captains, airline mechanics, bus drivers, and pipeline controllers are just a few of the transportation workers required to perform these tests. The reason for this is to ensure all transportation methods are operated in a completely safe and responsible manner.
DOT has a set of standards, rules, and regulations that must be followed for a test to be considered a DOT or a ‘DOT-approved’ test. Test Smartly Labs meets all DOT specifications and can perform your drug and alcohol tests.
For employers and employees working in any agency that falls under the DOT jurisdiction, it’s likely DOT regulations will need to be followed in your workplace. If you neglect to do this, you may face potential fines, suspensions, and other penalties for your violations.
Here are a few things that make DOT tests unique:
- Collections (urine or breath) are specified as “DOT” and cannot be used for any other tests outside of those specifically requested by the DOT agency.
- The DOT tests results cannot be changed or disregarded based on a non-DOT test (even if the results differ).
- Certain DOT forms must be completed for these tests and follow a specific process.
- Collectors must meet the training requirements to collect for DOT tests.
- The tests must be mandated and requested by an agency, with specific information provided each step of the way.
DOT Screenings
All DOT drug tests use the same 5-panel test, which screens for:
• Marijuana/THC
• Cocaine
• Amphetamines (MDMA, methamphetamine)
• Opioids (codeine, heroin, morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone)
• Phencyclidine
Test Smartly Labs is a DOT Drug & Alcohol Collection Site
As a collection site, we meet the specifications required for us to collect for the DOT test and the security requirements. The DOT specifies that we must have all of the employees, materials, equipment, facilities, and supervision to do the collection and temporary storage, shipping or urine to a lab, and a ‘suitable clean surface for writing’.
eCCF Paperless Drug Testing Available
DOT-regulated employers can now order a DOT drug test online and get it in all areas of The United States via Test Smartly Lab. This means that the electronic pass will be sent to you via email in minutes, without needing the traditional five-page custody and control form.
You can simply walk into one of our collection centers for the drug screen. The benefits include faster turnaround time, fewer collection errors, fewer spelling/data entry mistakes –and it’s approved by the Federal government.
The eCCF is an electronic version of the five-part paper Custody and Control Form used for ordering drug tests, specimen collection processing, and chain of custody documentation for DOT drug testing programs.
The Benefits of Using Test Smartly Labs
Although most employers understand the importance of drug testing in the workplace, many try to save money and cut corners by conducting drug screenings with the ‘Do-It-Yourself’ method to control the drug usage and impairment problems.
Say No to DIY
Unfortunately, most employers don’t realize that ‘Instant Drug Screens’ or ‘Dip Sticks’ do not yield conclusive drug test results and are not nearly as accurate as lab-based drug testing. If disciplinary measures are taken based on inconclusive instant drug screens, the employer will be a legal risk from the employee.
Liability
Some companies have strict policies regarding drug use, while others find it a personal matter. But the implications of being liable to the risk of lawsuits are definitive in both cases. Suppose a company does not consistently apply drug screening practices to new and existing workers, and someone by accident injures himself or other employees due to impairment caused by drug or alcohol use. In that case, the company may be challenged and sued for negligence in a court of law.
Legal Actions
Legal actions would likely result in lawsuits and costly court cases where a prosecutor or attorney’s core questions will include: Why you didn’t drug test your employees, What is your company’s drug policy, or if you use a professional drug testing company or DIY. Major liabilities risks exist for DIY drug screening and no drug testing in the workplace. These issues should be tackled very carefully and taken seriously.
Certified Collectors
As certified collectors, Test Smartly Labs can handle a wide range of testing needs, from drugs and alcohol to DNA and STD testing. We are equipped to offer fast, consistent, and accurate results and meet industry-specific standards. Our certified lab collectors can handle: DOT-compliant drug & alcohol testing, athletic drug, and alcohol testing, court-admissible tests, and military and government testing.
SAMHSA Certified
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was established to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. Labs performing employee drug testing look to SAMHSA for best practices for accurate and efficient drug testing. Drug tests required by the federal government or DOT need to take place with SAMHSA certified labs. At Test Smartly Labs, we also partner with the top Toxicology labs in the nation that are SAMHSA certified.
Our Customers
Test Smartly Labs provide you with legitimate proof that a person was correctly tested for drugs and alcohol. Our test results are accurate and defensible in court. Here are just some of our customers:
- Businesses: We partner with companies around the country to keep you and your employees safe by testing in line with each organization’s workplace policy on drugs and alcohol.
- Schools: Adolescents and young adults have a high risk of getting STDs; Test Smartly Labs can help test and screen for these infections.
- Individuals: Don’t want the hassle of calling a doctor and paying co-pays and deductibles to come straight to us for hormone testing, allergy testing, health and fitness testing, and testing for certain diseases and conditions.
- Social Services: We know drug and alcohol testing plays a critical role in several social services situations. If you’re a caseworker, social worker, or agency worker who needs a reliable drug and alcohol testing partner, Test Smartly Labs can help. Our offices are located in the community for your convenience, and we can collect samples in our professional lab or travel to you or your client.
- Agencies (law enforcement, judicial, government, and courts):
We partner with these agencies to handle sensitive samples and confidential information.
Who We Serve
Test Smartly Labs is your one-stop solution for all drug and alcohol, DNA, and lab work. We work with businesses, individuals, caseworkers, families, educators, and more.
- Testing Centers: We have five Greater Kansas City area locations: Kansas City Downtown/Westport, Kansas City North, Independence, and Overland Park.
- Collection Partners: We also serve clients throughout the United States through our 5,000+ collection partners.
- On-site Testing: Test Smartly Labs provides extremely convenient on-site testing for companies and mobile testing. If an emergency or crisis hits, we can reach you in no time.
- DOT Testing: We’re up-to-speed on all DOT regulations and collection protocols, and we follow a strict chain of custody procedures for all tests we offer.
Contact Us Today
Test Smartly Labs is a reliable drug testing partner that specializes in all types of testing. Whatever your drug and alcohol testing needs may be - from human resource protocols, legal cases, judicial proceedings, school settings, and personal use - we can provide you with the legitimate proof that a person was tested properly for drugs and alcohol. Our test results are accurate and defensible in court.
We make things easy for you, as we not only offer on-site testing but offer collection services throughout the United States. You have no reason to put testing off any longer. Test Smartly Labs meets all security requirements and the specifications required for us to collect for testing.
Whatever lab test, drug test, alcohol test or DNA / Paternity test you need, we’re here to help. Your health and wellbeing are our business!
Please contact us for more information via your preferred method of communication.
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