Roadside drug testing is drug testing, right? Well, not quite. There are differences in the methods that police forces around Australia conduct their drug testing and it can be the same in workplaces. In this blog, we’ll look at how roadside drug testing is carried out in Queensland and compare it with the workplace drug testing that Integrity Sampling conducts around the nation.
Saliva drug testing is the better way
One of the key differences in the way that drug testing is carried out is the type of sample that is used. Urine and saliva are the most common, but for obvious reasons urine isn’t used in roadside drug testing in Queensland.
Neither is urine used in most of Integrity Sampling’s drug testing. While the availability of restrooms in most workplaces makes urine sampling a potential method, we instead prefer to use saliva drug testing. While there are several reasons, this is mainly because saliva provides a shorter detection window. This makes saliva a more accurate way of determining if someone is unsafe to be in the workplace.
You can read more about the reasons why we recommend saliva over urine drug testing in our Saliva drug testing versus urine testing for your business post.
Roadside drug testing in Queensland
Here’s how roadside drug testing is undertaken by Queensland Police:
- Testing begins when a driver is stopped due to suspicion of being under the influence, involvement in a road accident or at a random testing station. Drivers are screened for cannabis, methylamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy.
- An initial test is done using a quick tongue swab to detect the potential presence of these drugs.
- If the swab returns a positive result, further testing is conducted either roadside or at a police station. This is done by taking another saliva sample, which is divided into two. One portion is tested immediately using an accurate and reliable analysing unit, called the Dräger DrugTest 5000, while the other is sent to the Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services for laboratory analysis.
- A positive result from the Dräger test triggers an automatic 24-hour licence suspension as a safety measure to prevent further driving.
- Prosecution may begin at the roadside or after confirmation of the positive result from forensic analysis, ensuring a thorough and fair process.
Workplace drug testing the Integrity Sampling way
As we’ve highlighted above, most of Integrity Sampling’s drug testing is carried out using saliva samples. While we do use the Dräger DrugCheck 3000 for some testing, most is carried out using the DrugTest 5000, the same equipment that’s utilised by the Queensland Police.
Here is a summary of the process we most commonly use:
- The process begins with collecting a sample. The person being tested uses a small collection device, rubbing it under their tongue and around their gums. This process takes approximately 30 seconds to a minute.
- The collection device is placed into the DrugTest 5000 analysing unit, which tests for specific drugs, including cannabis, methamphetamines, cocaine and opiates. The results are then displayed by the unit.
- While testing is highly accurate—the DrugTest 5000 has an accuracy rate of over 99%—false positives can occasionally occur. To address this, when a non-negative drug test is recorded, confirmation testing is performed.
- This involves collecting a second saliva sample, which is sent to an independent NATA-accredited laboratory for more precise analysis. At the lab, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry testing is conducted. This method, considered the gold standard for drug testing, identifies the specific drug family and the exact substance present in the sample.
- If the laboratory result is positive, it confirms a failed workplace drug test.
It’s a detailed and lengthy process, but it needs to be. After all, people’s safety – and potentially lives – are on the line.
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Ever wondered how roadside drug testing is conducted in Queensland? How about workplace drug testing? Wonder no more – Integrity Sampling has the answers.
