New Era Blog - DOT Drug Testing Industry News & Tips

21 Jun Split Specimen Testing 101: What You Need To Know

Posted at 16:56h in News & Announcements

When it comes to drug screening for employees, how much do you know about split specimen testing and the rights of the employee to have this done? Many companies don’t know all of the in’s and out’s of it. What Is A Split Specimen Test? A split specimen test is when the employee’s urine sample is split between two specimen cups in order to have a second sample tested if the employee wants this done. Most companies automatically do this, as it’s generally a DOT requirement. One sample is immediately tested by a certified laboratory, while the other sample is stored. If an...

13 Jun What Types Of Drug Screening Can Be Administered?

Posted at 11:12h in News & Announcements

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When it comes to employee drug screening, most people just figure they’ll be getting a urine test—probably because that’s the type of test that’s administered during pre-employment. However, there are different types of tests that may need to be used depending on the specific situation that’s going on with an employee. The two things that determine the type of drug test are which drugs an employer wants to screen for, and what type of sample they want to test with. Different drug tests can check for different amounts of drugs. For instance, there are 5 panel drug tests, 8 panel drug tests,...

05 Jun Drug Testing For Fired Employees Who Collect Unemployment

Posted at 12:27h in News & Announcements

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Let’s say an employee is fired after their drug screening comes back positive for drug use. Typically, the first thing that employee is going to do is to try and collect unemployment benefits from the company that fired them. Whether or not they’re allowed to do this depends on a few things, but what your written drug-free workplace policy has to say about it is definitely a factor. If you’ve done your written drug-free work policy correctly, it should already state what to do in this situation. Most workplace policies include that, because drug abuse is misconduct and therefore a violation of...

23 May Do You Have A Written Drug-Free Workplace Policy?

Posted at 16:02h in News & Announcements

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Would you know exactly what to do if one of your employees had a drug screening and it came back positive? Do you immediately fire them? Do you offer them assistance through the company? What happens, exactly? If you don’t know, that’s a problem. In delicate situations such as drug screenings, if the matter is handled incorrectly—meaning, not according to an established drug-free workplace policy—a company could be sued by the employee and potentially lose money, time, and reputation. Why Is Having A Written Policy So Important? By having a written drug-free workplace policy that outlines everything to do with your drug testing...

04 May Are MRO Services Necessary For Drug Testing?

Posted at 09:58h in News & Announcements

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Every good drug testing program should have a Medical Review Officer, or MRO, in place. An MRO is the physician who reviews drug test results for drug testing companies, and they are a very important part of the drug screening process. A regular doctor isn’t able to do this specialized job—only a trained and licensed MRO can perform these duties. But what exactly does an MRO do that a regular doctor doesn’t? This is a common question from companies who seek out a drug compliance program. MROs are Highly Qualified and Know All Regulations MRO services begin when a lab sends a drug test...

04 Apr Distracted Driving Awareness Month Promotes Safety On The Road

Posted at 11:47h in News & Announcements

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Distracted driving is a major problem on roads all across the country. According to the National Safety Council, as many as 40,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2016, a 14 percent increase since 2014 due in large part to a boom in distracted driving. Thankfully, the NSC is shines a light on this epidemic every April with Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Driving while distracted might not seem like a big deal, but even taking your eyes off the road for a second can cause serious problems. And those issues can be especially troublesome if you're a professional driver. The...