Employers all over the United States need reliable venders to provide drug and alcohol services. Who are these drug testing venders, and how can you find them?
Who Are Drug Testing Venders
A reliable vendor for drug testing is commonly called a third-party administrator (TPA) or consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA). These are companies in the business of professionally managing drug-testing programs for employers.
Employers typically think of LabCorp or Quest for drug testing. Although LabCorp and Quest do provide reliable drug testing for employers, they typically do not help employers manage their programs. There is much more to an employer drug-testing program than laboratory testing. Program management often involves these additional services:
- Development of a drug-free workplace program—a written policy
- Education and training for employees and supervisors
- Random testing management—selection and recordkeeping
- Assignment of collection site
- A medical review officer (MRO) for review and verification of results
- Access to employee assistance programs (EAP) or a substance abuse professional (SAP)
Local clinics, urgent care centers, and occupational health facilities also, like labs, typically don’t provide the expert management services needed for an effective drug-testing program. These facilities can collect specimens and ship to labs for testing, but program management is unlikely.
C/TPAs oversee all or a portion of an employer’s drug- and alcohol-testing program, which may also involve the maintenance of necessary records. They carry out responsibilities as stipulated by the employer to aid in the execution of the drug- and alcohol-testing program and to ensure the employer remains compliant with the Department of Transportation (DOT) or state drug- and alcohol-testing rules and regulations.
A professional TPA can provide the management services needed for an effective drug-testing program. Federal regulations, state laws, and best practices are so important to understand to avoid exposure or liability. The TPA helps the employer with this important component.
How Do You Find Drug-Testing Venders?
It is actually not that easy. A Google search for TPA does not provide any drug-testing companies. A search for C/TPA is much more effective in finding providers.
When looking for a professional C/TPA, check Google Reviews and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). If there are bad reviews, complaints, or no BBB listing, do not consider this vender.
There are many unqualified and unprofessional drug-testing venders, so do your homework. Always call to make sure the drug-testing representative is knowledgeable and able to help you meet your needs. Ask questions and ask for references. It is important to make sure your TPA is utilizing a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) certified laboratory and a certified medical review officer. Can the vender provide electronic ordering of drug tests and a web portal to review drug test results?
For professional, reliable drug-testing services with high Google reviews and A+ rating with the BBB, contact the experts at National Drug Screening, Inc.
Additional information—Avoid the top five mistakes employers make in their drug-testing program.
