pre employment drug screening...where?

[DebbieB]

It's becoming less common. My current job used to do urine tests at a lab, now they do the cheek swab in the office and send it off.
My wife's place started drug tests for applicants about 10 years ago, dropped them like a hot potato about 3 years ago. Someone tested positive, was denied a job. Turns out the positive was from a legally prescribed medication (not marijuana), she sued because she claimed it would be a violation of medical privacy laws for her to be forced to disclose what she was taking and why.
Not sure what the law says, but the company wasted no time settling the suit for an "undisclosed", and immediately dropped drug testing.

I think that is why it's better done at a lab. That way if the employee is taking a prescription drug, they reveal that to the lab and it remains confidential to the employer.

My aunt used to be a supervisor in a group home for mentally disabled adults and she was shocked how many times she hired someone and the drug test came back positive. One time she got a call from the lab that someone came out of the bathroom with a cold specimen!

I work for an insurance company and there can be credits applied to a Workers Comp policy if the employer has a drug testing program.

 

[goofyernmost]

No matter where the test is actually done, it is carefully orchestrated. Temps are recorded, every sample is labeled and witnessed by the one being tested and it is then forwarded to a lab. The actual evaluation is not done on the job site, just the sampling.

 

[shimmyshimmy83]

When I was hired for my most recent job within the past two months, a urine drug test was required. My company emailed me the location of the clinic I was to go to and a 48 hour time frame in which I had to go. I did recieve the formal job offer though before recieving any paper work for my drug test. Obviously had I not passed, I would not have been able to start on my start date.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Until 2 months ago we did our own onsite urine testing with the employee health nurse, we disclosed any medications to her also. Now we are big enough we outsourced it. It also does strengthen privacy, which is another benefit.

 

[SandrA9810]

Never done it on site. And only a couple of times for different potential employers.

As long as the specimen is sealed and signed by the person who gave it, I don't think it matters where it was collected.

 

[tennisfan]

In all my life since going for my first job at 17 I have NEVER been tested for drugs. Why on earth is it so common over in the States?

I'm from the UK & have been drug tested for several jobs I applied for. It is starting to become common depending on the type of job you apply for.

 

[aprilgail2]

was hired on the spot) and also said she had already been drug tested. I said oh yeah she had to go to the lab...well the girl told her mother they gave the drug test in the employee bathroom at the store. I told the mom something didnt sound right about that. The mom is a nurse but was believing the daughter. I think any work place drug testing you have to go to a lab. I am leaving it alone, but what do you all think?

When I got hired at my job I went for an interview and then gave urine right there for a drug test. The container had a thermometer right on it, sealed it up..signed it...sealed it in another plactic bag and signed that over the seal and off it went--didn't have to go to any lab to do it...and that was 26 years ago!!!!

 

[Dax]

My son was tested onsite at a Temp Employment Agency this summer. They wouldn't send him out on jobs without it.

I also work for a temp agency...my job location is at the airport, and I needed security clearence. Before they started that ball rolling, I was drug tested right after my interview, and knew the results right then..I even got to witness it. Other times I have gone to a lab.

Either way, I am still peeing in a cup...the location doesnt matter to me

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I've done it both on and off site. My first job was a cheek swab sitting in the Starbucks section of the store, another sent me to a clinic, and the last time I had it done was when I started at a nursing home. It was done in the bathroom and then one of the nurses did the labeling and stuff.

My current job didn't test at all, which confused me, since they did credit and background checks, but no drug test I have no problem doing drug tests as I don't even smoke and anything I might possibly be taking is something I have no problem declaring. I was recently on Vicodin after a tooth extraction, and I told my boss so that if I passed out at work or something (it made me VERY dizzy and drowsy), they would be aware of what was going on.

 

[PatsMom]

I worked in a nuclear power plant. They didn't do drug testing when I was hired but started it a few years after. We all had to do initial testing and were then subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The testing was done on site.

 

[PatsMom]

I worked in a nuclear power plant. They didn't do drug testing when I was hired but started it a few years after. We all had to do initial testing and were then subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The testing was done on site.