Rapid Drug Screens - One weapon against employee drug abuse

"Instant Drug Tests" or "Rapid Screen Tests" can be a useful weapon in the drug testing arsenal, but employers should be very careful when using them. There are good reasons for doing quick tests, but there are also important safeguards that employers must take to safeguard the rights of their employees and to protect themselves from legal challenges.

First of all, it is important to know that the Department of Transportation does not authorize the use of any kind of rapid or instant test. Any drug testing completed for the D.O.T. MUST be done using a government certified laboratory. The D.O.T. requires that all screening tests that are not negative, be followed by a test with higher level of accuracy, such as a Gas Chromatograph / Mass Spectroscopic test (GC/MS).

In fact, ALL screening tests should be followed by a confirmation test, including rapid or instant tests. Here's why; rapid testing is less accurate than a lab screening test in verifying positive test results. Also, these types of tests are less foolproof than laboratory testing. Thirdly, courts are much more likely to consider as evidence, a drug test result signed by a certified laboratory scientist; instant drug test results are not.

Rapid Drug Screens are great for verifying that a person has not used illegal drugs in the past 48 - 72 hours. Their accuracy in confirming negative tests is excellent. They are convenient because in just about ten minutes, an employer can know if the donor is drug free. They can feel confident that the employee they are putting to work is not impaired.