Thank you to everyone who has kindly assisted me on this query. I'm very
grateful. Priscilla.
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Helen_Vangikar
Sent: Wednesday 30 June 2010 15:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Help! random drug testing
Hello Priscilla
I will try and answer your questions in order:
1) it is best practise for employees to be selected by a third party
using payroll numbers or other unique number. This will remove any
claims on company influence. Alternative selection methods, if this has
to be done in-house, include using playing cards. The key point is that
the whole process is open and visible to the donor. It would be useful
to write this procedure down and x-reference it in the policy
2) the collection officer will ask about medications when the sample is
collected. It would be advisable for the donor to read a 'donor advice
sheet' beforehand where questions of meds are addressed, it also can be
used as a prompt for donors to start thinking about their meds. As for
'special foods', or poppy seeds which is the usual inference, this is
the role of the medical review officer who should be trained to work
with the testing lab to verify or refute their consumption. There is
mixed value to recording this at the time of the collection.
3) this will depend on your policy and procedures. Point of collection
devices (POC) and valid in the correct context and all positives must be
subject to confirmation. Blood samples are not used for drug testing in
the workplace. Samples include urine and oral fluid; hair is rare
though possible. Urine and oral fluid can be subject to POCs and can be
confirmed in an accredited laboratory. Further info is available though
I talk better than I type!
4) trained collection officers undertake the collection with a key
feature being the maintenance of the C of C. In the lab, exactly the
same. Have you visited your service provider? What does their service
level agreement say? Is your service provider ISO17025 accredited where
SLA and customer services and monitored and scrutinised under this
accreditation? Happy to answer questions as I act as an independent
assessor for UKAS, who accredit labs for ISO17025.
5) Lots of ways to do this, however my question is 'which is the best to
keep the company away from industrial tribunals?' What you save on
cheapest, quickest, minimal you could spend double and more dealing with
tribunals, bad image and discredited procedures.
6) if this is being done in-house, calibrated breathalysers, robust
collection facilities, POCs with UK cut-off levels and sensitivities and
so on
Also consider, who will receive the lab results, who will interpret
them, their training/competencies, are HR aware of their role and ready,
challenge procures, if the policy is old and staff unaware or have
forgotten about the possibility of unannounced/random testing they will
need reminding/re-training and so on.
As I said, I talk better than I type, so please do not hesitate to
contact me if I can help. I am London based if you want to meet. Take
care Helen
| Helen Vangikar | Toxicology Consultant | m. +44 (0)7856 979961 |
| e. [log in to unmask] | www.helenvangikar.com |
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Priscilla Corrigan
Sent: 30 June 2010 12:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Help! random drug testing
Hello All
Does anybody's organisation carry out random drug testing? If yes, I
would be very grateful for your advice on the process. Our Substance
Abuse policy states that we reserve the right to do random drug testing
but does not stipulate how or clearly define who is going to do this
except that they 'attend Occ Health'!!!
My main questions are: -
1) how are employees randomly selected and who is responsible for this?
2) Do they complete a form first to pre-declare any meds or special
foods ingested?
3) Are they screened in the OH dept at the point of contact using
dipsticks or do they have bloods taken to be sent off for lab analysis?
4) How do you ensure chain of custody?
5) What is the quickest, low cost method which requires minimal
training?
6) What special equipment might be needed?
Thank you in advance for those who can give me some direction!
Priscilla
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