The Drug Testing Process
1. The Collection Site
The testing process begins when you refer an employee to us for
testing. Collections usually occur at our offices in Ketchikan and Juneau,
but we are available to come to your workplace (a nominal fee may apply).
In the summer months we also fly to outlying villages and towns on a semi-regular
basis for collections.
At the collection site, your employee will provide a urine specimen. A
rapid test can be performed on the specimen, and/or it is shipped to a
laboratory for testing.
2. The Laboratory
At the laboratory the specimen is tested for drugs. The standard
test is for marijuana, cocaine, opiates (such as heroin), phencyclidine (PCP),
and amphetamines. Tongass Substance Screening uses Quest Diagnostics in California
as our primary lab for members of our random programs. Once the specimen
has been tested, the results are then forwarded to a Medical Review Officer.
3. The Medical Review Officer (MRO)
The MRO is a neutral third party responsible for disseminating drug test results
to the employer or referring party. Negative results are forwarded immediately.
In the event of a positive result, the MRO will contact the employee to determine the reason for the result before releasing it to the employer. It is this stage that the employee can discuss medications he or she is taking and their implications on the results. After a period of 14 days, if all potential for contact with the employee has been exhausted, a positive result will be released.
While performing these duties, the MRO may become aware of sensitive medical information, for example an individual's medical condition(s), medications, and medical history. This information is kept confidential and is only used to assist the MRO's primary duty: determining if unauthorized drug use has occurred.
Tongass Substance Screening currently uses an MRO service based in Texas. This facilitates easy contact with donors. We also can assist you with locating physicians for DOT physicals. Call the Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage or Keokuk office for assistance.
