Workplace Drug Testing and the Clinical Laboratory

Abstract

Technical competence and quality assurance are the foundation of any laboratory. This is also true for any workplace drug testing program. The hiring of qualified laboratory staff and maintenance of a safe working environment for the laboratory are direct benefits of a well-designed workplace drug testing policy. This chapter discusses the rationale for and differences between regulated and nonregulated testing. Majority of laboratories are in the state or private employment sector and must be considered for nonregulated testing. While some states may have specific requirements for workplace drug testing of laboratory employees, private sector laboratories are free to design their own programs. Workplace drug testing is designed to provide a safe work environment, discourage drug use, and provide assistance in the treatment, recovery, and return to work of individuals with substance abuse problems. The basic component of any workplace drug policy is the preemployment drug test. The chapter provides guidelines for collection, testing, and reporting of results in workplace drug testing. Having completed the collection, the initial step in testing is receipt of the sample, while verifying and maintaining the chain of custody. The chapter also provides insights to the commonalities and differences between clinical and forensic drug testing. While standards and requirements for clinical and workplace drug testing share commonalities, the intertwining of clinical and forensic specimens is to be avoided. Instrumentation utilized for analysis of both specimen types may be the same, but it is important to have separate policies and procedures for each.