Drug and Alcohol Screening
Screening for the presence of Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) is becoming increasingly important in the workplace as the impact of improper alcohol and other recreational drug use can present a serious risk to health, safety and workplace productivity.
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation recently provided statistics on the impact stating that alcohol and drugs cost Australian workplaces an estimated $6 billion per year in lost productivity1. Implementing a robust screening program supported by a strong company drug and alcohol policy and workplace education program can add to a positive health, safe and productive workplace culture.
How It Works
- How It Works
- Make a Booking
- Types of Testing
- Specialist Services
- Industry Specific Services
- Accreditation
How It Works
In meeting client specific needs, we offer the flexibility of either in-clinic or on-site alcohol and other drugs testing.
While in-clinic testing provides a standardised fit for purpose collection and testing experience, on-site alcohol and other drugs testing is available for clients who are required to administer random tests to their workforce as part of their employment contracts and Occupational Health and Safety Policy. We also offer 24hour on-site casual drug and alcohol screening.
Both in-clinic and on-site testing provides for the use of quality assured test devices, standardised and supervised/observed collections, accurate interpretation by experienced collectors and quick turn-around times for results.
On-site Drug and Alcohol Screening
Need a Sonic HealthPlus collector to come on-site? It's simple and starts with a phone call. Click the button below to learn more about the process for on-site drug and alcohol screening.
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On-site Drug and Alcohol Screening
- Call 1300 339 557 to discuss your on-site Drug and Alcohol Testing Requirements and book in your session.
- We will ensure your program is compliant with Australian Standards and adheres to your Drug and Alcohol policy by confirming the following details prior to coming out to site;
- You have a current Drug and Alcohol Policy and understand how to handle any issues on the day such as non-compliance or a non-negative result.
- You have selected the testing method that adheres to your Drug and Alcohol policy (Saliva or Urine) or we can guide you to the most appropriate method for your needs.
- You have compliant facilities available for testing and they are set up appropriately for the collector ahead of time.
- Sonic HealthPlus can offer blanket or random Drug and Alcohol testing based on your policy requirements. Our team can offer assistance in randomising employee selection via the following methods;
- Employee Lists Prior to testing, you can send the SHP team your employee list which will be randomised for you and brought by the collector on the day of testing.
- On-site Selection After arriving on-site, the collector is able to offer a variety of instant random selection tools. For example, employee’s pick a ball out of bag with those selecting specially marked balls to make themselves available for testing.
Day of your test: the Sonic HealthPlus collector will arrive on-site on the day of testing 15 minutes early to set up in an allocated compliant collection room. Employees to be tested are to present to the testing location to complete paperwork, read donor information sheet and complete the test.
This process can be coordinated with the collector so employees are not waiting around for testing, are processed as quickly as possible and can return to work.
- A Urine or Saliva instant test procedure takes approximately 10 minutes to complete per person.
- A non-negative instant test result means an initial drug screen has indicated the possible presence of a drug metabolite which requires the sample to be sent for further testing to a NATA accredited laboratory. Please allow an additional 10 minutes to package the sample on-site.
- Individual employee reports are available by the end of the day and are provided via email to pre-approved company employees only. Testing summary reports are available on request.
- Confirmatory reports for non-negative samples are provided within 24hours of the final results being made available by the laboratory*.
In-Clinic Drug and Alcohol Screening
Would you rather come into a clinic to conduct your drug and alcohol screening? Start by calling the closest clinic and arranging an appointment. Click the button below to learn the process of an in-clinic drug and alcohol screening.
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In-Clinic Drug and Alcohol Screening
- Call your closest clinic and book in for a drug and alcohol screen.
- Arrive at the clinic 15 minutes before the appointment to complete any paper work and read the donor information sheet.
- Donor is called to screening room.
- A Urine or Saliva collection procedure takes approx. 10-15 min per person to complete.
- A Non-Negative result means an initial drug screen has indicated the possible presence of a drug metabolite which requires the sample to be sent for further testing to a NATA accredited laboratory.
- An interim result report is provided to the supervisor at the conclusion of the test.
- Confirmatory results are provided within 24hrs of final results being made available by the laboratory*.
*Actual Laboratory test turn-around times are dependent on the clinic location and test methodology.
24hr Drug and Alcohol Screening (On-Site)
24 hour After-Hours and Casual drug and alcohol screening programs give companies peace of mind that testing can be completed on-site, at any time. Click the button below to learn more about our 24 hour drug and alcohol screening process.
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24hr Drug and Alcohol Screening (On-Site)
24 hour after-Hours and casual drug and alcohol screening programs give companies peace of mind that testing can be completed on-site, at any time. Testing is often required in the following circumstances:
- On-site accidents that result in injury or property damage
- Workplace ‘near misses’
- Suspicion of employees being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
Situations such as on-site accidents or near misses don’t always happen from Monday to Friday and during business hours. Often it is after hours or on the weekend where the need for drug and alcohol testing is highest. To ensure the drug test results accurately reflect the status of the worker at the time of the incident, screening should be completed as soon as possible:
- Call the after-hours line.
- Collector calls letting you know they are on their way.
- Collector sets up in an allocated room.
- A urine or saliva collection procedure takes approx. 10 min per person to complete. A non-negative result means an initial drug test has indicated the possible presence of a drug metabolite which requires the sample to be sent for further testing to a NATA accredited laboratory.
- The supervisor will be informed of the Non-Negative outcome with an interim report provided to the supervisor at the end of testing.
- The decision as to whether the donor returns to work or is stood down pending the laboratory confirmatory result must be managed by the employer in relation to their company drug and alcohol policy. Individual and/or laboratory confirmatory reports are provided to the employer as soon as the final results are available from the laboratory.
Make a Booking
There are three easy options to book into a clinic for your Drug and Alcohol Screening.
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SASS
Our online booking system, SASS, allows corporate clients to book candidates into Sonic HealthPlus clinics, at any time of the day, 365 days a year.
Book Now
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Phone a Clinic
You can book into Sonic HealthPlus Clinics directly by contacting the clinics by phone.
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Types of Testing
To ensure an efficient and accurate Drug and Alcohol Test, based on our client’s needs, we offer two forms of screening;
Urine
Saliva
Our drug testing collectors receive nationally recognised training from our Registered Training Organisation (Code 51535) to ensure privacy, end-to-end chain of custody, specimen integrity and reliable test interpretation.
Saliva vs Urine what's the difference?
Learn the difference between saliva screening and urine screening by reading our informative Health Hub article.
Instant Urine Drug Testing
Our instant screening services are compliant with AS/NZ 4308:2008 Appdx A and NATA accredited and have a quick turnaround time for results. Instant screening offers a range of benefits including:
- Indicative non-negative or negative results in six class drugs including Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Marijuana, Opiates and Benzodiazepines.
- Integrity and adulteration tests to assist in identifying result tampering.
- Daily quality control testing for the instant devices used and ongoing device and collector participation in an external quality assurance program (RCPA).
- The instant immunoassay device test is simple and effective, with results visually interpreted by our trained staff within minutes.
- Should the result show all drug classes as negative then a final report will be issued indicating this on the day of testing.
As per AS/NZS4308:2008 requirements, should any of the drug classes show an initial non-negative result mandatory confirmatory testing at a NATA accredited laboratory must be carried out, as this provides a legally defensible confirmatory result.
Where this occurs an interim report will be issued stating that further testing is required.
Please Note: Sonic HealthPlus cannot disclose the nature of a non-negative (unconfirmed test result) to the employer until the confirmatory results are released. If the employer requires this information for their interim safety-critical work purposes it is up to the employee to disclose their unconfirmed results to their employer; and the employer to act as per their own drug and alcohol policy.
Instant Urine Drug testing is performed with collection either supervised or witnessed by the collector as per the client’s drug and alcohol policy requirements and is always in accordance with Section 2 of the standard.
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Laboratory Urine Drug Testing
Laboratory urine drug testing is where our trained staff collect the sample under the same AS/NZS 4308:2008 compliant conditions and the sample is then sent to a NATA accredited laboratory for testing.
Laboratory initial testing has a 24-hour turn-around time, if the sample shows a negative result for all drug classes the laboratory will issue a final report which we will pass onto the client.
Should the sample show a non-negative result for any of the drug classes at the labs initial immunoassay test then as per the AS/NZS4308:2008 requirements it must be submitted to confirmatory testing.
The lab will conduct this confirmatory testing and then provide a final report with the results of that testing to SHP.
SHP will then pass this report on to the client.
Please Note: when confirmatory testing is required the final result may take up to 48 hours from the initial collection to be finalised.
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Saliva Drug Screening
Saliva drug screening is an oral fluid based instant immunoassay test for illicit and/or prescription drug use and is performed to meet AS/NZS 4760:2019 requirements. This test is simple and discrete, with results visually interpreted within minutes.
Indicative non-negative or negative results are provided in five class drugs including: Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Marijuana and Opiates with Non-Negative oral fluid samples sent for confirmatory testing to a NATA accredited laboratory. Although performed consistent with the standard, currently no NATA accreditation is available for this service.
Other Testing Methods
Breath Alcohol Screening
Our trained staff perform Breath Alcohol screening consistent with AS3457:1997 testing requirements using calibrated, hand-held Type-2 electronic devices. If the initial sample of breath indicates the presence of alcohol above 0.00 then a second sample is obtained 20 minutes after the first. Should this sample also show a positive result this is a legally defensible confirmatory result and no further testing is required There is no NATA accreditation available for breath alcohol testing.
Alternatively a client may request a urine alcohol laboratory test, however, as there are no Australian Standard cut-off values for urine alcohol and the result only indicates the presence or absence of alcohol in the urine, it would be up to the employer to seek expert MRO advice on result interpretation.
Non Standard Drug Testing
Clients requiring screening for drugs of abuse, other than those stated with cut-off or target values in the relevant standards, may be assisted after discussing their needs with a Sonic HealthPlus MRO or Occupational Physician.
The outcome of the discussion must also be approval by the General Manager of Clinical Governance for Sonic HealthPlus.
Additional drug tests available with laboratory testing include: methadone, barbiturates, phencyclidine, synthetic cannabinoids, and some other US drug classes.
Specialist Drug and Alcohol Screening Services
Need help understanding your results? Medical Review Officers (MRO’s) are registered medical practitioners who have knowledge and understanding of:
Substance abuse disorders and their management
Alcohol and other drug testing procedures and methodologies
Ethical and privacy issues surrounding workplace drug and alcohol testing
Legislation and recommended standards in regards to drug and alcohol programs
Fitness for work and other medical related safety issues
Laboratory methodology and quality control
Pharmacology of illicit drugs
Interpretation and monitoring for companies who need to comply with Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (1998)
Interpretation of test results including alternative medical explanations for laboratory confirmed results
Sonic HealthPlus provides the following MRO services:
Drug and Alcohol Risk Management Advice
Drug and alcohol validation of results involves the assessment of all testing documentation, sample integrity and results interpretation. This service includes phone consultation with relevant parties i.e. worker, supervisor and possibly a general practitioner. The MRO provides a report to the company representative and candidate.
Drug and Alcohol Policy - Advice and/ or Review
MRO’s can also provide valuable advice in the development of a quality drug and alcohol policy or review of an existing one. Please contact us for a proposal if you wish to take advantage of this service.
On-call MRO Fitness for Duty Instant Assessment (Drug and Alcohol)
This is an MRO on-call service that can be arranged upon request. The MRO identifies if prescription drugs or faulty testing procedures have influenced the result of an employee’s initial drug and alcohol test. Using specialised knowledge of the use of prescription drugs, the pharmacology and toxicology of illicit drugs and testing procedures, the medical review officer will determine if an employee can safely return to work without risk to themselves or others.
Specimens that were non-negative when first tested are forwarded for laboratory confirmatory testing and results are forwarded to the MRO (Confirmatory reports provided within 24 hours of final results being made available by the laboratory). The MRO determines whether drug results are positive or negative i.e. consistent with a declared drug usage. If 'negative' the MRO writes the final report and the case is closed. If the result is 'positive', the MRO writes the final report and sends it to the company who manage the employee as per their drug and alcohol policy.
Industry Specific Drug and Alcohol Screening Services
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
Under subpart 99B of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, an organisation must consult a Medical Review Officer (MRO) in the following three circumstances:
- If a confirmatory drug test conducted under the organisation's drug and alcohol management policy (DAMP) returns a positive result
- If a Safety Sensitive Aviation Activity (SSAA) employee has failed to give a body sample for AOD testing due to a medical condition, an MRO must review the relevant medical information to confirm that there is a valid medical reason
- To determine if the employee is fit to resume performing or being available to perform an SSAA after they have been prevented from doing so following a 'suspension event'
This service includes phone consultation with all relevant parties in addition to validation of all testing documentation. The MRO provides a report to the employer.
Rail Industry
Under s115 of the Rail Safety National Law (RNSL), a rail transport operator must prepare and implement a drug and alcohol management program (DAMP) for rail safety workers who carry out rail safety work in relation to railway operations for which the operator is required to be accredited. The DAMP must comply with the prescribed requirements under the National Regulations (regulation 28). This includes, among other things, an internal drug and alcohol policy, systems and procedures for the provision of information and education to rail safety workers in respect of alcohol and other drugs, as well as an AOD testing regime to be undertaken by operators. Alcohol and other drug testing in the rail industry is generally governed by 3 different codes:
- The National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers (2017)
- State legislation
- Alcohol and Other Drug policy of each rail operator
Mining Industry
Workplace Health and Safety in the mining industry is regulated by states and territories. Mining Regulations 9.3.2 in addition to the relevant state and territory safety and health legislation, guide workplace alcohol and other drug testing program requirements especially for workers in safety-sensitive positions where drug testing is mandatory.
Building Industry
From 16 Oct 2015, the Building Code 2013 now includes the requirement for mandatory alcohol and other drug testing on Commonwealth funded projects/construction sites.
Road Transport Industry
Drug and alcohol testing pertaining to road usage is governed by:
State legislation
The Austroads publication- Assessing Fitness to Drive 2016.
More information
The commercial vehicle driver medical standards generally apply to drivers seeking authority to drive heavy vehicles, public passenger vehicles or vehicles carrying bulk dangerous goods. Specifically the standards require that drivers undergo regular health assessments to make sure they meet the medical criteria for commercial drivers contained in Assessing Fitness to Drive, with particular focus on medical aspects including substance abuse.
What Is NATA Accreditation?
The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) is the authority that provides independent assurance of technical competence through a proven network of best practice industry experts for customers who require confidence in the delivery of their products and services.
Sonic HealthPlus is one of the few providers who have achieved NATA accreditation for AS/NZS4308:2008 specimen collection, detection and quantitation of drugs of abuse in urine. Unlike certification, NATA accreditation focuses on overall compliance with quality assurance systems and processes, rather than technical competence only. It also provides you with the assurance that if required, the results will withstand a legal challenge in Australian courts. Each and every one of our clinics and site services units have been independently audited by NATA in order to be deemed fit to carry this accreditation.
Sonic HealthPlus is a leading provider of drug and alcohol screening within Australia. Adhering to a strict standardised best practice, AOD testing policy and procedures, and having access to a team of experienced screeners who have received Nationally Recognised training to ensure we deliver all DAS services to the highest standards possible.
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