Non-Dot Substance Abuse Testing

Specimen Collection Services:  As part of your program, you have access to a wide variety of collection services.  We regularly monitor our network for quality, performance, and service changes.  Following are the most common collection service needs.

Fixed collection facilities:  During implementation, each of your locations is assigned a collection site based upon the scope of services needed.  We use various collection sites and networks as part of our supply chain management strategy to reduce cost.

Onsite collection services:  For your onsite collection needs during normal business hours, we provide mobile collection services in two different ways.  Most commonly, a collector comes to your facility and conducts the collections within.  Alternatively, a mobile unit is dispatched to your site in which the collections are conducted.  Please note that for this to be a cost effective solution, there are minimum volume requirements per event, which vary, based on the location of the service need.

Emergency collection services:  These are available for after-hours and weekend collection needs.  Our network of providers is qualified to collect urine specimens for analysis, and analyze breath samples for compliance with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 40.  Collections are conducted at a collection facility (30-mile radius) or by a mobile collector.  This service is accessible from 5:00pm-8:00am CT, Monday through Friday and twenty-four hours each day over the weekend.  It is important to note that the fee is assessed once the call is made to request the emergency collection service.

Laboratory Services:  Urine specimens are collected at an assigned collection site during normal business hours and shipped to a SAMHSA certified laboratory for a five-panel drug test.  This standard five-drug panel includes marijuana,           amphetamine/methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates, and phencyclidine (PCP).  Non-negative screens undergo the industry standard GC/MS confirmation testing.  Specimens are also tested for adulterants.  All testing is performed using the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) drug cut-off levels and confirmation processes.

It is important to note that in certain instances, drug tests require additional laboratory analysis (Example: 6 MAM, D/L Isomer, etc.)  The fees for these additional services vary among the laboratories.  However, these situations occur in less than 1% of all non-negative tests.  During implementation, you are able to set a preference for being notified when these additional analyses are required by our MROs.

Medical Review Officer (MRO) Services:  All results are downloaded from the laboratory for MRO services.  Every donor who has a non-negative laboratory result has an opportunity to speak with an MRO before a report is made to your Designated Employer Representative (DER).  We make three attempts to contact the donor over a three-day period.  The interview provides the donor an opportunity to offer a legitimate medical explanation for the result.  After interviewing the donor, the MRO may deem it necessary to consult with laboratory or collection personnel or order a retest of the original specimen.  Upon conclusion of the process, the MRO:

• Determines that the result is scientifically accurate, lacks legitimate medical explanation, and report the result as a non-negative (positive, adulterated, substituted); or
• Determines that a legitimate medical explanation exits, substantiate and document that explanation, and report the result as negative; or
• Cancels the test if collection procedures were violated.

Healthways retains records on non-negative drug tests for a minimum of five years and negative tests for one year.

In the event that a substance abuse test is challenged, our MROs, upon your request, serve as expert witnesses for you at any hearing or trial involving your SAT program.  The training and experience of our MROs qualifies them as experts in court and arbitration proceedings.  Telephonic deposition is available at no additional charge.

Breath Alcohol Testing:  Testing is conducted at a collection site, during normal business hours, by a certified Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT).  The procedures followed are the DOT testing procedures contained in 49 CFR Part 40.  As per DOT regulations, these tests are reported by the collection site directly to your Designated Employer Representative (DER).  Healthways enters BAT results into our data system once a fax is received from you DER.  If the DER does not forward the result to us, we have no record in our system to reconcile with collection site fees, or to provide the result data in management reports.

Random Selection:  On an annual basis, you may provide Healthways with one electronic list of those eligible for random testing.  These are provided in an approved format and emailed to random@healthways.cc.  A reminder is sent to you seven days prior to your random selection date requesting an updated list.  On your assigned date, we generate the random list based on your defined protocols and email it to you for distribution and employee notification.  In addition, your online management program compliance and performance data.  Various compliance reports are available online as well.