Drugs and Alcohol Screening

The Health and Safety Laboratory has an established UKAS-accredited drug and alcohol service. We offer:

• Comprehensive in-house service from policy advice and development through to drug screening, confirming and interpretation;


• Information on support and rehabilitation programmes;
  
• Dedicated customer account managers.
  

Drug and alcohol policies
A drug and alcohol policy should be established before any programme of drug testing is undertaken. HSL can provide expert advice and consultancy on drafting and implementing a workplace drug and alcohol policy.

Workplace Drug & Alcohol Testing Workshop
HSL runs one-day workshops on Drug & Alcohol Testing. The course covers:

• What is drug & alcohol work place testing?
• What are the difference drug & alcohol policy guidelines?
• What are the different ways of testing?
• Practical aspects of a drug & alcohol policy and workplace testing.

 Further details on the Workplace Drugs & Alcohol Testing Workshops run at HSL please click here

Sample collection training
HSL can provide the specialist personnel and technical training required to manage sample collection.

Sampling kits
We will provide you with:

• A full sampling kit;
• Chain of custody materials and supervision where appropriate.

Sample testing
Our testing package offers:

• Urine screening for seven drug classes (amphetamines including ecstasy, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, methadone and opiates) plus alcohol;
  
• Confirmation testing for positive screens (e.g. screening can produce positive results for some over-the-counter medicines);
• Testing at our own laboratories;
• Specific or unique testing programmes;
• Secure and confidential reporting of results;
• Expert toxicology interpretation and medical review services.
  

Additional services

• Oral fluid testing;
• Surface and air sampling in drug storage areas;
• Long-term marker testing for alcohol;
• Additional drug class testing, e.g. buprenorphine;
• Expert witness consultancy.

Quality
Due to the nature of this testing and to give our customers confidence in our service, our testing methods (both screening and confirmation) are UKAS-accredited and we participate in the United Kingdom National External Quality Assurance Scheme (UKNEQAS).

Drug Testing Methodologies for Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB)
HSL reviewed the available drug testing methods in terms of their suitability for use by the UK railway industry. This covered the medico-toxicological, ethical, legal defensibility and other issues related to the implementation of the various testing methods that relate to the Railway Group Standard.

  To view a full copy of the report please click here

Further Details
Contact our Business Development Group by telephone (+44) 01298 218218, fax (+44) 01298 218822 or email hslinfo@hsl.gov.uk.

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