Occasionally, donors try to get around employer’s attempts to make their companies’ drug free. There are two very obvious ways that are addressed in the NIDA-Department of Transportation regulations as well as the Statutes that govern the Florida drug free workplace policies. Both specifically give collectors procedures to follow for these two situations.

The first is regarding specimens that are diluted. A diluted specimen is one with too much water. The donor drinking a large volume of water prior to the test could cause this. Or the other scenario is the deliberate addition of water to the specimen to try and disguise the results. The DOT regulations state that a diluted specimen may cause the collector “reason to believe that a particular individual has altered or substituted a urine specimen”.

According to the rules of both governing bodies, if a collector receives a specimen that is diluted the procedure is very specific. The collector is to note that the specimen is diluted on the chain of custody form. The collector then will advise the donor that the specimen is diluted and require the donor to provide another specimen under direct observation. Both specimens are to be sent to the lab for analysis.

The other type of attempt is the delivery of a specimen that is outside the normal temperature range. Each specimen is checked for temperature within 4 minutes. If the specimen is either too cold or too hot, the donor will be advised of the situation and another specimen will be collected under direct supervision. Both specimens will be sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Lakeside's responsibilities include advising our companies of the requirements in these situations and the fact that we are required to send both specimens to the lab for analysis. This means companies will be billed for both specimens. Additionally, we feel it is imperative that we keep you advised of these situations when they occur.

If you have any questions or wish additional information on Unacceptable Specimens, please call the drug screening facility at (727) 585-4833.