What exactly is a drug test? Many of us picture a urine cup and assume that tells the story. In reality, reliable workplace testing is a rigorous process that follows strict protocols every step of the way. A drug test is a scientific analysis of a biological specimen, such as urine, hair, blood, saliva, or breath. What it looks for is specific: either the actual drugs or the metabolites the body produces as it processes those drugs. How we ensure accurate, defensible results goes far beyond...

On July 2, I watched with pride as our industry took the stand in the fight to protect workplace safety. The National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA), on whose board I am honored to serve, testified before the Drug Enforcement Administration in opposition to a federal proposal to reschedule marijuana. NDASA Executive Director Jo McGuire and drug testing policy expert Patrice Kelly spoke forcefully on behalf of employers and employees across the country as the DEA weighs moving...

For years, we've faced a frustrating gap in drug testing technology. Our urine and hair tests could confirm that someone used marijuana, but not when. I might see a positive result and have no way to know if it reflected use right before work or use days earlier on personal time. As an employer, you don't want to punish someone for what they did legally on their own weekend. You want to know if they used on the job or just before clocking in. The testing tech simply could not distinguish...