"Impaired" in this context is a legal term: Having a level of drugs or alcohol during testing that is higher than a prescribed "cut-off" limit (or level).

Testing is a two-stage process.

First, an initial, or screening test is administered. This type of screening is called Immunoassay or Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique (EMIT). This is the most common type of screening. Because it is particularly suitable for testing a large volume of specimens, EMIT is the most widely used initial screening method.

If a test using the EMIT method is positive for one or more drugs, then a second, confirmatory test is performed for each identified drug. The confirmation test uses a different, more sophisticated chemical process. It ensures that substances such as over-the-counter medicines are not reported as positive. This confirmatory testing method is called Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). GC/MS is perhaps the most sensitive and accurate test yet developed. It requires an extremely expensive test machine, as well as a highly trained technician. For these reasons, GC/MS is used most often for confirmatory testing.

If your drug testing program is mandated by Department of Transportation (DOT), its regulations require that all confirmation tests must be performed using GC/MS. As well as its high level of accuracy, GC/MS is also the only testing method that provides a documented data record suitable for review and interpretation by an outside expert, such as a Medical Review officer (MRO).

Process of Collecting Specimen

The urine specimen is given at a collection site, which is usually a clinic or doctor's office. We have established relationships with extensive collection site facilities.

At the collection site, an employee usually provides the specimen in private. A person who is trained in the collection process seals and labels the specimen, then prepares both the specimen and its accompanying paperwork for shipment to a drug testing laboratory. Each step of the process is documented on a "chain of custody" form. The collection and chain of custody procedures ensure the specimen is properly identified and tracked throughout the testing process.

For companies that have to comply with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, there is an additional step. The urine sample must be split in two and put into primary and secondary specimen bottles. This procedure is referred to as a "split specimen" procedure.

In a split specimen procedure, both bottles are sent to the laboratory, but only the primary specimen is opened and used for the initial screening and confirmatory tests. The secondary specimen bottle remains sealed and stored at the laboratory.

If the confirmation test on the primary specimen is positive, the employee has 72 hours to request that the split specimen be sent to another certified laboratory for analysis. The split specimen procedure essentially gives employees an opportunity for a "second opinion" if their drug tests come out positive.