Drug & Alcohol Testing

Government Studies Reveal that One out of Six Workers Has a Drug or Alcohol Problem

Identifying employees who need treatment and establishing a drug-free work environment can improve safety and productivity, inhibit absenteeism and reduce a variety of costly losses throughout your organization.

Administrative losses. Absenteeism, tardiness, overtime pay, sick leave abuse, health insurance claims, disability payments and costs associated with accidents.

Hidden losses. Diverted supervisory and managerial time, resentment among workers, material waste, equipment damage, poor decisions and damage to public image.

Losses with legal implications. Workers’ Compensation, disciplinary actions, grievances, threat to public safety and worksite security.

Drug Testing Is an Important Facet of Your Company’s Effective Drug Prevention Program

• It deters substance abusers from applying for employment
• It provides a means to identify employee or job applicants who are using illicit substances
• It deters use of illicit substances by present employees
• It assists employees in recognizing and admitting their abuse so that they may obtain treatment, and confirms that employees in recovery remain substance free

CONSIDER THE FACTS

- Substance abusers on average cost their employer $7,000–$10,000 per year
- Substance abusers on average are absent 16 times more often and are 1/3 less productive
- Substance abusers on average cost companies 300 percent more in medical cost and benefits

Why Choose Medical Laboratory Service to Handle Your Department of Transportation (DOT) and Non-DOT Drug Testing?

Medical Laboratory Service (MLS) is a fully accredited, independent laboratory. Conveniently located in downtown Bozeman, MLS serves both local and national organizations and is sensitive to the unique needs of Montana businesses. Backed by nearly 20 years of testing experience, MLS offers:

• Rapid turn-around time (negatives in less than 2–3 days).
• The most cost-effective rates in the region.
• Each of our staff members is certified in drug collection procedures in accordance with DATIA standards.
• All technologists performing drug analyses are board-certified and licensed Montana Clinical Laboratory Scientists. In addition, the MLS medical director is a certified pathologist.
• Medical Laboratory Service promotes quality assurance by participating in an approved program of proficiency testing by the API, the results of which are available to state and federal agencies.
• Medical Laboratory Service assumes legal responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of our procedures in the area of collections, chain of custody and detection of drugs within the assay threshold detection limits.
• MLS retains laboratory records of urine drug screens for five years after testing.
• The confidentiality of all drug screens is maintained by an “Employer Designated Representative”—an individual designated by your company or organization to whom all results are confidentially faxed, mailed or delivered.
• Off-site specimen collection, chain of custody and specimen integrity training is available upon request.

Drugs Tests at MLS Screen for:

• Amphetamines
• Barbiturates
• Cannabinoids
• Cocaine
• Opiates
• Phencyclidine
• Methadone

These classes cover the major drugs of abuse and include the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s “NIDA 5.” Drugs are tested at a standardized threshold that virtually eliminates false positives. If one of the the above drugs is detected in a urine sample, MLS will independently confirm its presence through a second procedure, such as mass spectrometer gas chromatography (GC/MS). Confirmatory tests such as these separately identify drugs from their families—for example, distinguishing between illegal cocaine and prescription codeine. This testing will be performed at a reference laboratory and will add 1–2 days to test results.

MLS Case Studies

A local construction company with a well-organized and effective drug prevention plan already in place orders pre-employment drug screens for all job applicants—either DOT or non-DOT depending on the position sought, performs quarterly random drug and breath alcohol tests, and requires post-accident drug and alcohol tests on those drivers involved in accidents.

A local retail business orders non-DOT pre-employment drug testing on all prospective employees. A drug-free workplace means good business by saving money on liability insurance.

Half a dozen national reference laboratories subcontract with MLS as their trusted local or regional drug collection site. Under a strict chain-of-custody, MLS collects urine and sends it via overnight courier to the contracting laboratory.

A Commitment to Quality, Kindness and Respect

MLS is about more than just testing.We’re about people. We’re a caring community dedicated to personal health, affordable testing, accurate results and prompt turn-around time. Our trained technologists are on call 24/7 to answer your questions. And a friendly, knowledgeable staff ensures that every visit to our laboratory is marked by respect for your organization and your employees.

Whether your company is small or large; whether you’re local, regional or national—MLS has the staff, the resources and the know-how to support your commitment to a safe and successful drug-free workplace. For more information, call 406-586-2040.

We look forward to serving you.