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Dear Graham, A gentler equivalent of a barge-pole might be Sure-step Stix, and for the school to buy its own, & to seek its own answers to such questions. I don't know their availability in Oz, in the UK via "Euromed" the phone numbers would be 020.7706.7132 or 0800.169.5167 Best wishes, Les > From: Graham Jones <[log in to unmask]> > Reply-To: Graham Jones <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 08:42:02 +1000 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: School place drug testing > > Dear Colleagues, > > We have had a first approach by a GP on behalf of a high school principle > regarding drug testing of school students. My first reaction involves > something about the non-use of barge-poles. However it may be better to try > and offer more specific advice. I will put down my thoughts in no > particular order and welcome any comments, critisism or suggestions from > this group. > > 1. If wishing to proceed with urine drug testing consider, in advance, all > possible outcomes and responses. eg what will be the response to a > positive, who will be told, what sanction may be applied, will it be the > same sanction in response to all levels of all drugs. > > 2. Will testing be voluntary or optional. > > 3. What response would be taken to non-provision of a sample. > > 4. What "right of reply" and further investigative mechanism will be in > place, eg could a positive THC be due to passive smoking, could a positive > opiates be due to poppy seeds or a cough medicine. What would be expected > of the testing laboratory with regard to expert advice. > > 5. What standard of testing is required. I would recommend testing to AS > 4308 (Australian Standard for workplace drug testing) in considering the > school as a "workplace" and also considering the possibility of medicolegal > action. > > 6. Who will supervise the collection and what standard will be applied (eg > direct observation). > > 7. With regard to points (1 - 6) above, who needs to agree to the process: > the school council, the department of education, the P@C, all parents, all > students. etc? > > > The above does not consider the reason for wishing to proceed or any legal > issues regarding student's rights, parent's rights etc. > > Thank you in advance for any advice which may be of use to us as a > pathology service, the GP who may be involved in testing, or the school > which is considering the testing. Again my feeling is that it is not a good > thing for anyone to do and I would like to have the best reasons for an > answer. > > Regards, > > Graham > Graham Jones > > Staff Specialist in Chemical Pathology > St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney > Victoria St, Darlinghurst, 2010 > NSW, Australia > Ph: (02) 8382-2170 Fax (02) 8382-2489 > [log in to unmask] > > > ********************************************************************** > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they > are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify > the system manager. > > This footnote also confirms that this email message has been > virus scanned and although no viruses were detected by the system, > St Vincent's Hospital accepts no liability for any consequential > damage resulting from email containing any computer viruses. > > ********************************************************************** > > ------ACB discussion List Information-------- > This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical > community working in clinical biochemistry. > Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed > via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and > they are responsible for all message content. > > ACB Web Site > http://www.acb.org.uk > List Archives > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html > List Instructions (How to leave etc.) > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/ ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/