Coolangatta Medical Centre

Employee drug testing is increasingly being carried out by organisations due to the general recognition that the use of alcohol and other recreational drugs can present a hazard in the workplace.

Drug testing in Gold Coast may also be useful in pre-employment assessment. The main goals of urine testing include:

• To improve workplace safety
• To improve productivity
• To reduce product/service defects
• To help employees overcome or modify their patterns of use of such substances

URINE DRUG TESTING

Drugs are well concentrated and excreted in urine, and testing involves techniques for detecting the various substances in a sample of urine.

The following drugs are tested:

• Cannabinoids (i.e. marijuana)
• Amphetamine Substances (e.g. speed, ecstasy etc.)
• Benzodiazepines (valium etc.)
• Cocaine
• Opiates (e.g. heroin, morphine)

In addition, we offer standard drug screen testing, covering:

• Barbiturates
• Alcohol (ethanol)
• Methadone Metabolite
• Phencyclidine
• Other drug classes can be tested upon request.

URINE COLLECTION

Urine for testing may be collected either supervised or witnessed according to the company’s OH&S protocol. Supervised collections are standard Healthscope Commercial Pathology policy and are carried out by trained collection staff. Such collections can be performed, on request by the Client. Collection, labelling and transport of the sample are carried out according to strict ‘Chain of Custody’ protocols as described in National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) guidelines. Chain of Custody documentation and procedures are designed to protect sample integrity and avoid sample tampering and claims of misidentification.

URINE DRUG COLLECTION KIT

Healthscope Commercial Pathology provides a convenient kit to facilitate urine specimen collection and labeling. The kit consists of a strong plastic transport tube with screw-on lid, two specimen bottles and caps, specimen ID labels, Chain of Custody request form, tamper-proof seals, temperature strip, specimen plastic bag. The kits are suitable for mailing or transport to Healthscope Commercial Pathology laboratories.

URINE SCREENING TESTING AND CONFIRMATION

The initial laboratory testing is a ‘screening test’. A screening test can give a false positive result on occasion and it is strongly recommended that all positive results be confirmed using a confirmatory Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) test. Screening rechecks can be requested by the referrer, without charge, on the original sample.

URINE DRUG KITS

The following drug classes are detected:

• Cannabis (THC)
• Amphetamines / (AMP)
• Methamphetamines (MET)
• Opiates (OPI)
• Benzodiazepines (BZO)
• Cocaine (COC)

SALIVA DRUG KITS

The following drug classes are detected:

• Cannabis (THC)
• Amphetamines / (AMP)
• Methamphetamines (MET)
• Opiates (OPI)
• Cocaine (COC)
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

EFFECT OF MEDICATIONS

It is possible that some medications may lead to false positive results in the initial screening test. Staff for whom urine drug testing is requested should be asked to list all prescription and non-prescription medicines and supplements that they may be taking.

Or Call (07) 5599 1400