Pre-employment hair test for drug use....
 

Okay, so I just read the posts and answers started by mpwelsh007 about failing a pre-employment drug test.

Well, I don't fail drug tests cuz I don't do drugs or anything else, but I was just sent home from a company because I questioned the hair collection technique used by the Concentra Medical Center for a drug test. I had already given the mandated urine sample but when they went literally behind my back and said they were cutting some of my head hair, I didn't feel comfortable accepting that it WAS my hair that they were going to send for testing since I couldn't SEE them TAKING the hair. Kinda like losing the chain of custody like the urine test that is supposed to be done completely in front of the donor so the donor can verify that it IS their urine.

I offered several different options for a hair sample, ie. from the arm pit or crotch or even from the side of my face where I could WATCH them cutting MY hair, not sneaking around behind my back doing what ever they wanted to do.

Hair drug testing is NOT a DOT approved testing technique, but it is approved by the FDA. Is this something that the company could put on my DAC as a refusal to drug test?











mpwelsh007 is offline

I would expect that since you were sent home that the company considered it a refusal. It is up to the collection contractor to determine how and where samples are collected. As far as I know most who do hair follicle testing take hair samples from the read of the head. Having someone watch while you give a urine sample is not for the benefit of the one taking the test, but for the administrator to make sure the urine is from the subject and there is no tampering. Frankly, I don't see the problem. I would much rather a sample be taken from the back of the head than front or sideburns. You may contact the company and ask them how the refusal will be reported.

I stopped worrying about loosing hair, a long time ago. :)

Thank you gman, but I had already given the mandatory urine sample. The hair is not a follicle sample but a hair sample. I was told by the recruiter that they could also take hair from the arm pit or the pubic area. Even though I offered those areas to the company via the recruiter, it was refused. It is alright for them to take the hair from the men from those areas, but they refused to do so for me.

If I had already given the mandatory DOT urine sample, how can it be considered a refusal to take a hair sample even though I offered other solutions?

What leads you to believe that Concentra Medical Center was going to submit someone else's hair with your name on it?? :confused:

Might this have something to do with why Western Express treated you as a new driver, despite your previous driving experience, and and why they were able to run you for only 16 pennies per mile?? :confused: :confused:

If they insisted on taking hair from the back of your head why didn't you just ask to use a mirror? Problem solved!

HireRight does not have a place to report a non-DOT refusal, but I supposed technically a company could say "personal contact requested" and report to prospective employers.