Employee Drug Testing

WHY IT'S BETTER

Structured Testing for Safer Workplaces

Drug testing programs must follow strict federal and state requirements including proper authorization, certified laboratories, chain of custody controls, and Medical Review Officer verification.

Multiple Testing Methods

Programs may include urine, saliva, hair, or breath alcohol testing based on detection requirements, with each method offering different detection windows and substance coverage.

Certified Collection Network

Collections are performed through a nationwide network of certified collection sites that follow proper chain of custody protocols and federal specimen handling requirements.

Chain of Custody Controls

Chain of custody tracks samples from collection through laboratory analysis to result reporting, maintaining documented evidence integrity that supports employment decisions.

Policy Aligned Testing

Testing aligns with company policy and federal workplace drug testing guidelines, ensuring programs operate within legal boundaries and follow documented procedures.

HOW IT WORKS

A Structured Drug Testing Workflow

Launch testing programs through a structured workflow in four steps:

Define Testing Program

Testing type and policy requirements are defined including which test methods to use, when testing occurs, and what substances are screened.

Schedule Collection

Collections are scheduled through a nationwide network of certified sites with employees receiving clear instructions for specimen submission and documentation.

Laboratory Analysis

Samples are analyzed by certified laboratories using federally approved testing methods with results reviewed by Medical Review Officers to confirm accuracy.

Receive Test Results

Results are delivered in standardized formats with negative results reported immediately and positive results reported after MRO verification.

Workplace Safety with Compliance for Good™

Regulated testing programs support safer workplaces through certified collection, laboratory analysis, and MRO review
that follow federal and state workplace drug testing requirements.

Pre Employment Testing

Pre-employment testing identifies drug use before hire, preventing the workplace accidents, theft, and productivity losses that impaired employees create from day one. Skipping pre-employment screening allows drug users into your workforce where they create safety incidents and workers’ compensation claims. GCheck’s pre-employment drug testing catches substance abuse before employment begins, protecting your workplace from the impaired employees who will inevitably cause the incidents that cost far more than screening.

Random Testing Programs

Random testing programs provide ongoing deterrence that prevents workplace drug use by creating unpredictable testing that makes employment incompatible with substance abuse. Without random testing, employees know exactly when they’ll be tested and adjust use accordingly. GCheck’s truly random selection ensures testing unpredictability that creates the deterrent effect that makes drug use incompatible with continued employment at your organization.

Post Accident Testing

Post-accident testing determines whether substance abuse contributed to workplace incidents, protecting workers’ compensation defense and supporting root cause analysis. Delayed or skipped post-accident testing allows impaired employees to sober up before testing, destroying the evidence needed to deny workers’ comp claims and identify safety gaps. GCheck’s immediate post-accident protocols ensure testing occurs within the timeframes that preserve evidence and protect your ability to defend claims when substance abuse caused incidents.

Return to Duty Testing

Return-to-duty testing verifies that policy violators have completed required treatment and achieved sustained sobriety before returning to work in safety-sensitive roles. Allowing employees back without verification creates liability when substance abuse continues and causes subsequent incidents. GCheck’s return-to-duty protocols ensure policy violators demonstrate sobriety before returning to duties where impairment creates safety risks and organizational liability.

Secure Handling Controls

Secure handling controls protect sensitive drug test results from unauthorized disclosure while maintaining the access that employment decisions and safety investigations require. Inadequate drug test security creates ADA violations, privacy breaches, and defamation claims when results are disclosed to unauthorized personnel. GCheck’s access controls ensure drug test results are viewed only by personnel with legitimate need-to-know, protecting both employee privacy and organizational liability exposure.

Workflow Integration

Workflow integration routes drug test results directly into your HRIS and safety management systems, eliminating manual transfers that create delays and documentation gaps. Disconnected drug testing forces duplicate data entry and creates timing gaps between results and employment actions. GCheck’s seamless integration ensures drug test results automatically flow to decision-makers and personnel files without manual intervention that slows response and creates errors.

COMMON CONCERNS ANSWERED See How Our Approach Supports Compliance and Consistency

What types of drug tests are available?

Drug testing options include urine testing for recent use detection, hair testing for 90-day drug history, saliva testing for immediate impairment, and breath alcohol testing for current intoxication. Each testing method detects different substances and timeframes based on workplace risk and policy objectives. GCheck offers all major testing methods with certified collection and laboratory analysis, enabling you to select the drug screening approach that matches your specific safety risks and detection requirements.

Is drug testing compliant with regulations?

Yes, drug testing programs are compliant when performed with proper authorization, certified laboratories, documented chain of custody, and MRO review of positive results. Compliance requires navigating federal workplace drug testing guidelines, state drug testing laws, and industry-specific regulations. GCheck’s drug testing follows all applicable federal and state requirements, ensuring your program meets the legal standards that protect employment decisions from challenge and results from evidentiary exclusion.

Are results verified?

Yes, positive drug test results undergo Medical Review Officer verification to rule out legitimate medical explanations before results are reported to employers. MRO review protects employees with valid prescriptions while ensuring confirmed positives represent actual drug abuse. GCheck’s MRO verification ensures every positive result is medically reviewed before reporting, protecting your organization from the wrongful termination liability that occurs when unverified positives lead to employment actions.

How long does testing take?

Drug testing timelines range from 24 hours for negative results to 72 hours for results requiring MRO review, with hair testing extending to 5-7 business days due to laboratory processing requirements. Timing varies by test type, laboratory volume, and whether results require medical review. GCheck provides test-type-specific timing expectations so your team can plan employment start dates and manage candidate communication around when drug test results will be available.

Is consent required?

Yes, employee consent is required before drug testing under most state drug testing laws and company policy requirements that govern workplace testing programs. Documented consent demonstrates employee understanding of testing procedures and consequences. GCheck’s authorization workflow captures consent before testing occurs, protecting your program from the challenges that arise when employees claim they didn’t understand or authorize testing that led to employment actions.

Can testing support post incident review?

Yes, drug testing supports post-incident investigations by determining whether substance abuse contributed to accidents, enabling root cause analysis and workers’ compensation defense. Post-incident testing must occur within specific timeframes to preserve evidentiary value and meet policy requirements. GCheck’s post-incident protocols ensure testing occurs immediately following qualifying events, protecting the evidence needed to defend workers’ compensation claims and identify whether substance abuse caused workplace accidents.

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