Drug and Alcohol Testing Services. Transport Industry

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1 Drug and Alcohol Testing Services Transport Industry

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3 Contents About Us... 2 Transport Industry... 3 Types of Testing... 5 Training & Consultancy Services... 7 Products... 7 Hair Drug Testing... 8 Hair Alcohol Testing... 8 Urine Drug & Alcohol Testing... 9 Oral Fluid Testing Designer & Synthetic Drugs Breath Testing Sample Collection Service & Chain of Custody Medical Review Services Expert Witness Services

4 About Us Randox Testing Services, part of the Randox Laboratories group, is a global market leader in the forensic toxicology and drug and alcohol testing industry. The company, which has over 30 years experience, now employs over 1,000 people worldwide including 200 research scientists, has 25 international offices and distribution agreements in 145 countries. The reliable and high quality products and services developed by Randox are used internationally by laboratories and industries. These are held in high esteem due to our exceptional customer service and commitment to revolutionising testing solutions through continuously improving diagnostics. This commitment is what drove founder and managing director, Dr Peter FitzGerald, to develop the innovative Biochip Array Technology (BAT) that has changed the way we think of drugs of abuse testing. This technology has a multiplexing design which has been optimised to test for up to 23 different drugs at once from a small sample of urine, hair, oral fluid or blood. Be Positive It s Negative Founded in 1982, Randox utilises cutting-edge drug and alcohol screening methods to test employees in the Haulage and Public Services industry. Companies in these industries face bad publicity, fines and employee tribunals for even the smallest incident of drug or alcohol abuse. Many employers are being proactive and adhering to stringent regulations by taking the necessary steps to test employees before incidents occur. As a result, more companies are using drug and alcohol tests to effectively manage substance misuse in the workplace. Employers have the power, through company workplace drug and alcohol testing policies, to take the following actions: Random drug and alcohol testing Pre-Employment drug and alcohol testing With-Cause drug and alcohol testing Post-Accident drug and alcohol testing Abstinence Monitoring Our revolutionary technology not only provides high quality, reliable and accurate results for companies but it also offers a much more cost-effective way of screening. Analysis of hair, urine, oral fluid, breath and blood (or a combination of these) can be used to help assess drug and alcohol exposure or abuse. Our analytical work is accredited by UKAS to the ISO/ IEC standard for Testing Laboratories. To view a copy of our latest schedule of accreditation please go to or refer to the UKAS website for further details. Our processes adhere to European guidelines Society of Hair Testing ( and European Workplace Drug Testing Society guidelines ( 2

5 Transport Industry Did You Know? On average there are road deaths each year associated with blood alcohol levels below the legal limit (between 10 80mg%) A third of older motorists are caught the morning after they have been drinking Approximately 60 children are killed or seriously injured by drink drivers annually Over 200 people are seriously injured each year in accidents involving drivers who were impaired by drugs (including legal drugs) Around 18% of people killed in road crashes have traces of illegal drugs in the blood, with cannabis being the most common Why Test? Professional drivers have a responsibility to service users to carry out their daily tasks on roads and rails safely and carefully. As driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people do, employers must conduct suitable drug and alcohol testing through workplace policies to ensure that work related journeys are safe. As a public service employee or haulage driver, alcohol and drugs can: Slow down reaction time by 10% to 30% Reduce night vision by 25% Significantly impair steering ability from as little as 0.035% blood alcohol content Therefore, employers should specifically test employees if: An employee is involved in an accident or serious incident at work Behaviour of an employee gives cause for concern An employee is being transferred to safety critical work post There are serious implications for employees and also employers for drug and alcohol abuse at work. The penalties are: 1. Driving with excess alcohol: A fine (the normal fine for a basic drink drive offence is between 400 and 450 A statutory minimum period of disqualification of 12 months 2. Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs: A maximum of 14 years imprisonment 3. Serious, including repeat, drink-drive offenders (Road Safety Act 2006): Period of disqualification Retake the driving test at the end of disqualification period 3

6 Transport Industry Know Your Limits In the UK, the alcohol limit for drivers is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, 35mg per 100ml of breath or 107mg per 100ml of urine. In most other European countries the limit is less, usually 60mg per 100ml of blood. Some European countries have a lower level for bus and coach drivers, as well as for heavy goods vehicle drivers. Under the new Railways Transportation Safety Bill, the UK Government has introduced new limits for those working in the Transport industry. The new limit is 0.02%. That means 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and 9mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The UK Network Rail takes its responsibilities for the safety and welfare of its employees very seriously. It has a zero tolerance policy on the misuse of drugs and alcohol by employees and all drugs of abuse are completely banned. The Network Rail limit on alcohol is much tougher than the drink-drive limit at 29mg alcohol per 100ml blood. Each year they carry out random drug and alcohol testing on a percentage of employees with PTS cards or in safety critical work posts. The percentage to be tested in any given year is based on risk. Who to Test? Train drivers Train guards Train conductors Shunters Rail signalers Permanent way workers Taxi drivers Bus drivers LGV and/or HGV drivers Tram/Rail/Lorry mechanics We Recommend Regular Testing The Road Haulage Association (RHA) carried out research which concluded that the majority of haulage employers do not test drivers and at the same time do not think there is a drug use problem. A substantial minority of RHA members do not test drivers currently but suspect there is a significant problem with drug and alcohol misuse. Randox Testing Services believe it is the responsibility of Public Services providers, as well as all employers who have on-the-road services to undertake regular drug and alcohol testing to strive for safe work related journeys whether on the road or tracks. European Transport Safety Council are also calling for more regular employee drug and alcohol testing for HGV drivers to reduce fatal accidents. Randox Testing Services are fully Link-up Qualified via Audit enabling us to provide services to the rail industry within the UK. 4

7 Types of Testing Random Testing Random drug and alcohol testing is a popular type of workplace testing as it acts as a deterrent to drug and alcohol abuse. While your drug and alcohol testing policy should clearly outline that you carry out random workplace testing, employees should not know when. We recommend that random selections and testing should be performed at least quarterly. Randox Testing Services will arrive to your workplace unannounced and carry out the sample collections from an indiscriminate selection of employees, under strict chain of custody procedures. Our clients are able to choose the percentage of the workforce to be tested, and how often you would like the testing carried out. We use our random selection technology to eliminate bias and provide accurate random selections. Key Benefits: Can be used to monitor the drug and alcohol culture Helps to assert what level of workplace drug and alcohol misuse there may be Can be used as a deterrent as each employee will know that they could be asked to undertake a test at any time Studies have shown that random testing is effective in reducing accidents, absenteeism, staff turnover and lateness among staff It is a convenient way to maintain the safest, most efficient employees and ensures their working environment is safe and free from drug and alcohol misuse Pre-Employment Testing Pre-Employment drug and alcohol screening is the most popular type of workplace testing especially in industries which have safety critical roles. This type of testing is an essential part of a company s recruitment process and clearly states the company s position on drug and alcohol misuse for any potential employee. Frequently included as part of a pre-employment medical, a company can choose the type of sample they wish to test but consideration should be given to the detection windows for each sample. Key Benefits: Pre-Employment testing is one of the easiest programmes to implement Screening applicants is an effective way of preventing future problems such as absenteeism and decreased productivity Some companies offer employees specific healthcare policies. Therefore, drug and alcohol testing during the recruitment process will reduce the company s healthcare cost Pre-Employment screening can protect the integrity of a company, acting as an effective deterrent to prospective employees who misuse drugs and alcohol Recommended sample types for Random and Pre-Employment testing: Hair Urine 5

8 With-Cause Testing With-Cause or Reasonable Suspicion drug and alcohol testing is performed when a company is suspicious that an employee may be currently under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This suspicion is normally raised if an employee is acting out of character and there has been observed different behaviours. These may include a lack of motivation, over-activeness, aggression, anxiety or arrogance. Randox Testing Services offer a 24 hour call-out service which guarantees an experienced collection officer will arrive to your company within a maximum of two hours and perform a sample collection. This excellent service is available 24/7, 365 days a year and complies fully with chain of custody procedures. Key Benefits: Studies show that drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace is happening on a regular basis. Employers must be aware that if they suspect an employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is legally required (Misuse of Drugs Act 1971) that they take the appropriate actions to protect the safety of the employee concerned, other members of staff and the general public. With-Cause testing is an effective method for reducing absenteeism, avoiding damage to a company s reputation and dispelling safety concerns. Randox Testing Services offer extensive drug and alcohol management awareness programmes which provide companies with advice and guidance to help identify workplace drug and alcohol misuse. Post-Accident Post-Accident testing is the screening of an employee to determine if drugs or alcohol may have contributed to an accident/incident in the workplace. This type of testing can be an effective tool in accident investigations and it is our recommendation that should an incident occur, all employees involved should be tested. Randox Testing Services offer a 24 hour call-out service which guarantees an experienced collection officer will arrive to your company within a maximum of two hours and perform a sample collection. This excellent service is available 24/7, 365 days a year and complies fully with chain of custody procedures. Key Benefits: Post-Accident testing for drugs and alcohol enables employers to determine if drugs or alcohol contributed to an incident in the workplace. This could make a critical difference in decisions made following an accident. This type of testing safeguards the rights of the employees and employers by confirming or disproving if drugs or alcohol played a part in the incident. Recommended sample types for With-Cause and Post-Accident testing: Oral Fluid Urine 6

9 Abstinence Monitoring Abstinence Monitoring is conducted as a follow up on a previous confirmed positive drug or alcohol test. If an employer provides support to an employee who has had a confirmed positive drug or alcohol test, this type of testing may be used to help with rehabilitation. Randox Testing Services advise that your workplace drug and alcohol testing policy outlines that an employee in this situation may be tested at any stage during the rehabilitation process. Employers use this type of testing to ensure that the treatments offered to employees with substance addictions are effective. Employers should seek to provide employees with the optimal opportunity to remain abstinent and then continue successfully at work, and return-to-work testing offers this. Key Benefits: Ensures that an employer is tackling and reducing the instances of workplace drug or alcohol abuse It is used to monitor and support employees to return to work and improve productivity This type of testing improves staff discipline, increases employee morale and helps prevent staff turnover Recommended sample types for Abstinence Monitoring testing: Hair Urine Training & Consultancy Services Randox Testing Services offer an extensive range of tailored training programmes to educate both employers and employees. All training courses are fully documented, regularly reviewed and include an assessment of the effectiveness of the training. Our programmes include training in key areas such as: Drug & Alcohol Management Awareness Collection Officer & Chain of Custody Policy Consultancy Services Randox Testing Services provide bespoke e-learning packages which can be accessed remotely and completed online. Products Randox Testing Services offer a wide range of products specifically designed to test for drug and alcohol misuse. We provide point-of-care products for drug and alcohol testing which can be used and interpreted on-site for instant results. In addition, we offer a selection of collection devices and confirmatory kits which can be used by your trained staff and sent to our laboratory for detailed analysis. 7

10 Hair Drug Testing A hair sample from an employee can provide a profile of drug use over a period of months. A hair drug test offers a longer window of detection than alternative testing and helps to provide a detailed month-on-month view or an overall picture of historic drug use. This can highlight trends of drug use, suggest abstinence or show evidence of use depending on the length of the hair sample. Our hair testing services are designed to meet the specific requirements of your organisation. When a drug is taken it is absorbed in to the blood stream and circulated around the body. As the hair grows, drugs from the blood supply are incorporated in the hair follicle. Drugs can remain in the hair almost permanently. Hair grows at an approximate rate of 1cm per month, so a 3cm section provides a profile of drug use over a 3 month period. Benefits of Hair Drug Testing: Historic timeframe available (90 days +) Helps identify long term abuse Sample collection is quick, simple and non-invasive Legally defensible chain of custody procedures Speedy turnaround of screening and confirmation results Easy to store specimen Observed sample collection; difficult to adulterate Quantifiable results Secure reporting of results Certificate of Analysis Drug Detection List: Amphetamine Methamphetamine Cocaine Opiates Ketamine Benzodiazepines Cannabis Phencyclidine Hair Alcohol Testing Randox Testing Services offer a combined analysis for hair alcohol testing as an aid in the determination of chronic excessive alcohol consumption. A combination test of alcohol markers ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) help provide evidence to assess chronic excessive alcohol consumption. Both EtG and FAEE are metabolites of alcohol present in the hair after the breakdown of alcohol in the body. Although EtG/FAEE analysis in hair is a useful tool, the analytical findings should not be taken in isolation and other factors surrounding the case should be taken into consideration. The analysis of blood samples for CDT (Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin) and LF (Liver Function) tests should also be considered in clinical assessments. 8

11 Urine Drug & Alcohol Testing Urine is the most common sample type for drug and alcohol testing in the workplace. Simple and practical to obtain, the detection window for drugs in a urine sample is between approximately 4 hours to 5 days of intake. This is extended for regular cannabis users to around 30 days. Alcohol is detectable in urine for less than 12 hours. It is particularly useful if urine testing is used in combination with hair analysis to provide an enhanced time-line for drug detection. The recent coverage of drug abuse in urine complements the ability of hair testing to detect drug abuse over a retrospective period of months. The analysis of hair for alcohol metabolites is a more satisfactory means of testing for chronic alcohol abuse. Due to the nature of providing a urine sample, certain criteria need to be fulfilled to ensure that the sample has been collected under strict chain of custody and so guarantees sample integrity for legally defensible testing. Safeguards include removing any potential chance of diluting or replacing the sample. The toilet area is secured and sample temperature checked to ensure that the sample has been freshly voided. Randox Testing Services also test for Creatinine which is a simple method of testing the authenticity of the sample given and reducing false-negative results in urine testing for drugs of abuse. Benefits of Urine Testing: Industry standard with good scientific support Robust and proven procedures Internationally available guidelines Fully validated laboratory methods accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Legally defensible chain of custody procedures Secure reporting of results Certificate of Analysis Speedy turnaround of screening and confirmation results Randox Testing Services provide the most comprehensive range of Drugs of Abuse testing on the market. Our extensive drug detection list includes: Amphetamine Barbiturates Benzodiazepine Cannabis Cocaine Methadone Methamphetamine Opiates Phencyclidine Buprenorphine MDMA Ketamine LSD Zopiclone Synthetic Cannabinoids Bath Salts Fentanyl Oxycodone 9

12 Oral Fluid Drug Testing In addition to analysis in hair and urine Randox Testing Services offer screening and confirmatory analysis of drugs in oral fluid samples. Sample collection is fast, simple and non-invasive. The detection window for drugs will typically be a maximum of 48 hours. Benefits of Oral Fluid Testing: Easy to collect; non-invasive Observed sample collection; difficult to adulterate Robust and proven procedures Legally defensible chain of custody procedures Secure reporting of results Certificate of Analysis Speedy turnaround of screening and confirmation results Our extensive drug detection list includes: Amphetamine Barbiturates Benzodiazepine Cannabis Cocaine Methadone Methamphetamine Opiates Phencyclidine Buprenorphine MDMA Ketamine LSD Zopiclone Synthetic Cannabinoids Bath Salts Fentanyl Oxycodone Designer & Synthetic Drugs Randox Testing Services provide clients with an array specifically designed to detect designer and synthetic drugs. These drugs are synthetic versions of illegal drugs which have been modified and labelled so they are not subject to any regulation. They are generally stronger than the original substances and are sold under innocent names such as bath salts, incense or plant food. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reported in 2013 that it detected 73 new substances in 2012 compared with 49 in Our extensive drug detection list includes: Bath Salts 1 (MDPV) Bath Salts 2 Benzylpiperazines Mescaline Phenylpiperazines 1 Phenylpiperazines 2 Salvinorin Synthetic Cannabinoids 1 Synthetic Cannabinoids 2 Synthetic Cannabinoids 3 Synthetic Cannabinoids 4 10

13 Breath Testing Breath can be tested for alcohol using handheld devices which provide immediate results. These devices are specific to alcohol and can gauge blood alcohol content (BAC) by measuring deep lung air. Randox Testing Services use Intoximeters breathalysers which are Home Office Approved and used by a number of police forces across the UK. Intoximeters breathalysers are legally defensible and designed to meet the unique and rigorous requirements of evidential breath testing. This type of testing can accurately determine whether an employee has recently consumed alcohol or is currently over the legal or pre-determined limit. These instruments are simple to use, accurate and robust and have a variety of functions including the ability to test passive, direct or liquid samples as well as breath expelled into a container. Detection Windows Concentration of Drug (not to scale) Oral Fluid Instant - 2 days Urine 4hrs - 5 days Hair 90 days + 11

14 Sample Collection Service & Chain of Custody Randox Testing Services offer a UK, Ireland & Europe sample collection service. By using our trained and experienced collection network clients ensure the integrity of employee samples. This guarantees that the results reported by the laboratory originated from a particular donor and that the reported results relate, beyond doubt, to that specimen. Appointments for sample collections can be arranged within one working day and all samples can be collected at one appointment. We can collect the following sample types: Hair Urine Blood Oral Fluid Breath Most commonly our sample collection officers will attend your workplace site. However, we also offer a number of collection sites for donors to attend. In addition to this we have a Mobile Testing Unit which can be utilised should you wish to carry out testing off-site or have limited resources on-site. We collect samples under strict chain of custody procedures which removes the potential that the sample has had the opportunity to be accidentally or maliciously adulterated or tampered with. This is essential should legal proceedings occur on the strength of the test outcome. Chain of custody refers to the system of controls governing the collection, processing and storage of samples and involves the following: Chain of custody form with barcodes that link the specimen to the paperwork Donor consent and collector s signature on every form Tamper evident seals on the specimen containers that show if any attempt has been made to remove them Secure packaging to protect the specimens in transit to the laboratory Laboratory checks on arrival to confirm the chain of custody is intact Medical Review Services Randox Testing Services provide a medical review service which offers independent and expert examination of positive results under medical confidentiality. A positive result from a drug and alcohol analysis is a cause for concern. However, there are some cases when there is a legitimate medical reason for the result. The medical review service provided by Randox Testing Services allows the independent and confidential review of the result to determine the cause of a positive result, for example, if an employee is taking prescription medication. The Medical Review Officer (MRO) assesses a positive result in the light of the donor s medical background to determine if there is a legitimate medical reason for the result. The MRO helps protect both the rights of the employee being tested and the employer requiring the testing. 12

15 Expert Witness Services An Expert Witness Report is an interpretation of the results of an employee s drug or alcohol test. It provides a detailed explanation of whether or not substances tested for were detected as well as information regarding chain of custody compliance and testing procedures. As trusted industry experts Randox Testing Services staff are trained to act as Expert Witnesses in legal cases involving drug and alcohol testing. Our experienced team of Reporting Scientists have undergone extensive Expert Witness training from Bond Solon to provide professional witness statements or fully written reports for use as evidence in a court of law or industrial tribunals. Where required a Senior Toxicologist from Randox Testing Services can attend legal proceedings in person to provide expert witness testimony. An Expert Witness Report provides our clients with professional and objective evidence suitable for use in court. Professional interpretation of drug and alcohol test results is required to allow a full and correct understanding of the results and put them into context. The information and advice you receive from our experienced scientists ensures that you are fully informed about the results of your employee s drug and alcohol test. Our reports will be written to suit the relevant court as directed by our client. 13

16 Randox Laboratories Limited T/A Randox Testing Services Headquarters 34 Diamond Road, Crumlin, County Antrim, BT29 4QX London Finsbury House, 23 Finsbury Circus, City of London, EC2M 7EA Manchester Hexagon Tower, Ground Floor, Crumpsall Vale, Manchester, M9 8GQ LT500RTS SEP15 T +44 (0) F +44 (0) E testingservices@randox.com I Directors: Dr S P FitzGerald CBE FREng R P Kelly BSc FCA Northern Ireland Company Number NI15738 VAT Number GB