Sending one employee to a collection site for a drug test may be simple. Sending several employees during the same shift can create scheduling, travel, and staffing problems.
For Alaska employers, mobile drug testing can be an option when bringing the collection to the worksite makes more sense than sending employees offsite.
When Does Mobile Drug Testing Make Sense?
Mobile testing may be useful when several employees need testing, travel to a collection site takes employees away from work for too long, or shift schedules make offsite testing difficult to coordinate.
It may not be necessary for every situation. If one employee needs a test and a collection site is nearby, sending that employee to the facility may still be the easiest option.
What Should Employers Consider?
Before arranging mobile drug testing, employers should ask:
- How many employees need testing?
- How far is the nearest collection site?
- Will testing interfere with shifts or staffing?
- Can the worksite support the required collection procedures?
For employers managing larger crews or harder-to-reach worksites, bringing testing onsite may reduce some of the travel and scheduling involved.
What About DOT Drug Testing?
DOT drug testing can be conducted onsite when applicable federal requirements are met. The location may change, but the required DOT collection procedures do not.
For DOT-regulated testing, requirements involving qualified collectors, documentation, privacy, security, and specimen handling still apply. Mobile testing does not change the employer’s responsibility to make sure the test is conducted under the correct authority and according to 49 CFR Part 40.
Could Mobile Testing Work for Your Workplace?
If sending employees to a collection site is creating unnecessary travel or scheduling problems, mobile testing may be worth considering.
MedPhysicals Plus provides drug screening, mobile testing, and occupational health services in Alaska. We can help employers determine whether onsite testing is appropriate for their workforce and coordinate the testing process.
Need help with mobile drug testing in Alaska? Call (907) 561-7587, email admin@medphysicalsplus.com, or visit medphysicalsplus.com.