Sue Nolan Director, DrugFree Sites PO Box 3541, Shortland St Auckland 1140 sue@drugfreesites.co.nz (P36, Friday 28, Civic Room 1, 11.30)

1. Workplace Drug Testing
On-Site Urine Screening versus
Laboratory Testing
Sue Nolan
DrugFree Sites
Ph: 021 877606
sue@drugfreesites.co.nz
www@drugfreesites.co.nz

2. 2008
Standard
ongoing
queries &
confusion ?
??

3. Introduction
• Legal requirements
• Overview of AS/NZS 4308:2008
– On Site
– Laboratory
• Cross reactions: screen test
• Specimen integrity
• Drug & alcohol policy flexibility
• Pros & Cons

5. Drug Testing Is Lawful
AirNZ Employment Court Judgement: April 04
• Random: Safety Sensitive Jobs
• Post Incident/ForCause: All Staff
• AS/NZS 4308: Latest Version: 2008
• Comprehensive programme adopted

6. AS/NZS 4308:2008
S1: scope & definition
S2: collection, storage, handling, dispatch
 NZQA US25458
S3: general laboratory requirements  IANZ accreditation
S4: laboratory screening procedures  IANZ accreditation
S5: laboratory confirmatory procedures  IANZ accreditation
App.A: on-site screening procedures
 NZQA (US25511) & IANZ accreditation (agency)
App.B: verification of performance of on-site devices
App.C (& S2.2.4): chain of custody forms

7. Collection & On-Site Screening
Impact
1. NZQA qualifications
25458 : “Perform urine specimen collection in the
workplace for drug testing” (level 3, credits 2)
25511: “Perform urine drug screening in the
workplace” (level 4,credits 4)
NZQA Courses run by
1. DrugFree Sites
2. ESR
3. InScience

8. Collection & On-Site Screening
Impact
1. NZQA certification: US 25458 & 25511
2. Verified device

11. Collection & On-Site Screening
Impact
1. NZQA certification: US 25458 & 25511
2. Verified device
3. Integrity testing: mandatory
– Temperature (330
C & 380
C)
– Visual
– Creatinine
• Recommended
– Extended integrity
– Smell

13. Ways to cheat ?
• Drinking excessive fluid
– Dilute specimen: creatinine test mandatory, S.G.
• Adding fluid to specimen
• Substitution Temperature mandatory
• Dehydrated urine Smell
• In vivo: diuretics, herbal: PH, creatinine
• In vitro: bleach, detergents, nitrite
• Collection: PH, nitrite, oxidant tests recommended
• Artificial bladders

14. Artificial Bladders

15. Beating the cheats
Suggestions

16. Collection Site Requirements
• Allows for individual privacy
• Only collector & donor in room where collection/
documentation/ screening is in process
• No bags or coats taken into toilet
• Empty pockets, remove boots, self frisk (optional)
• No access to water in toilet
• Remove cleaning agents & bins/ containers
• Colouring in the toilet
• Cistern and windows secured
• Donor washes hand before urinating
• Instruct not to flush toilet
• Collector must accompany donor to the toilet area –
stand and wait outside. Door can be ajar.

17. Company Policy: Responsibility
Post Accident/ Incident, For Cause, Random
From the time of notification, arrange for the
employee to be accompanied at all times and
escorted to the designated NZQA qualified
collector and “on-site” screener and trained
breath testing provider.

18. Collection & On-Site Screening
Impact
1. NZQA certification: US 25458 & 25511
2. Verified device
3. Creatinine test mandatory
4. Other sample integrity screen recommended
5. Daily controls: +ve & -ve
– Daily at testing site
– After 25 tests (alternate)
– Faint lines: negative ????

19. Collection & On-Site Screening
Impact
1. NZQA certification: US 25458 & 25511
2. Verified device
3. Creatinine test mandatory
4. Other sample integrity screen recommended
5. Daily controls: +ve & -ve
6. Proficiency testing program
– External: RCPA
– Program with laboratory: 5% negatives
1. Agency has IANZ accreditation

20. Accreditation
ISO 15189, AS/NZS 4308: 2008 (sect 2, app A & B)
• IANZ: Shelli Turner programme manager
• Recognised internationally
1.Application fee: $90
2.Advisory visit (optional): $1700
3.Document examples  IANZ for inspection
4.Initial assessment (IANZ & Tech Expert): $5000
5.Annual registration fee: $700
6.Annual surveillance visit
7.Every 4 years: full assessment

21. Chain of Custody Minimal Information
(2.2.4)
• Verification of donor’s ID (photo not essential)
– Unequivocal and independent
• Two unique identifiers (full name & date of birth)
• Date & time of collection
• Name & signature of collector
• Requesting authority details
• Results of specimen integrity checks
• Declaration by collector: compliance with Standard
– Specimen collected & Tested on-site (if applicable)
• Signature from donor confirming
– Their own specimen & correctly taken
– NB: This is the last step
• Medication & results of on-site screen not on employer
copy

22. Language & Reporting
• Screen result
– Negative or “Not Negative”
– Word “positive” prohibited
• Screen “not negative” or specimen integrity ??
– Interim report may be issued to requesting
authority that can only advise that the specimen
requires further testing
– No indication of which drug class
• Why is this critical

23. Cross Reactions
screen “not-negative”
Medication
•Pseudoephedrine
 Methamphetamine
•Codeine
 Opiates
•Orphenadrine
Foodstuff
•Poppy seeds  opiates
Biogenic Amines (eg red wine)
 Methamphetamine
Multidrugs present

24. Laboratory Confirmation
GCMS or LCMSMS
Accredited
Laboratories
•CHL
•ESR
•LabPLUS

25. Excuses for Non Compliance

26. What Drug Classes & Substances?
• Cannabis metabolites
• Opiates: morphine, codeine, 6-acetyl morphine
• Amphetamine type substances:
– amphetamine, methylamphetamine (P),
– methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (E)
– methylenedioxyamphetamine (E)
– pseudoephedrine, phentermine, ephedrine
– benzylpiperazine (BZP): not “on site” screen
• Cocaine metabolites
• Benzodiazepines
– diazepam, nordiazepam, oxazepam, temazepam
– alprazolam, clonazepam, flunitrazepam, nitrazepam metabolites

27. Definition: Drugs
Illicit, restricted and some currently legal drugs which have
the potential to cause impairment, eg:
•cannabis and hashish
•opiates (such as heroin and morphine)
•cocaine
•amphetamine type substances (speed, “P”, ecstasy and party pills
containing benzylpiperazine)
•synthetic THC (Kronic, Puff, Amsterdam Cafe)
•misuse of some prescription drugs (tranquillisers, sedatives)
•other currently legal party highs
•other “mind altering” substances can be added to the testing suite as
they become available and are misused.

28. Other Drugs: S1.1
The detection & reporting of drugs other
than those listed in Table 2 is not precluded
– Synthetic THC (Kronic, Spice, Puff)
– LSD
– DMAA (dimethylamylamine)
– Magic mushrooms (psilocybin)
– Salvia Divinorum (tripping weed)
– Oxycodone (on site cassettes available)
– Cathinone derivatives: at least 20 variations
• Make from Khat plant
• Mephedrone, methylene dyoxypyrovalerone,
methedrone

29. Laboratory Testing
• Laboratory testing only
• Screening by GCMS or LCMSMS
• Mass spectrometry confirmation  detected
• Laboratory determines cut-offs
• No clinical trial data often to make decision on
cut-offs
• Synthetic THC
• Metabolites of JWH- 018, 073, 122: tests available
• Other derivatives: no tests yet
• Cut-off 10ng/ml

30. Pros and Cons
• Speed
• Cost
• Post Accident/ For Cause  only stand down “not-
negatives”
• Random  taking action immediately
• Expense of compliance
• Extended testing suite
• Personal safety
• Cross reactions  medications/ foodstuff
Motto: Select the screening option(s) which is “fit for
purpose” and complies with the Company policy. Always
get laboratory confirmation after “not-negative” screen.

31. Goal is a Drug Free Playing Field