Urine Drug Screening

What is a Urine Drug Test?

A urine drug test or urine drug screen, is a simple and effective test that measures urine for the presence of certain illegal drugs and prescription medications, and results may be visually interpreted within minutes. The test usually screens for alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, marijuana, cocaine, PCP, and opioids (narcotics).

Who needs screening?

Employees/potential Employees

Many employers require potential employees to have urine drug test before they can be hired and as part of a Pre-Employment Examination.

Employee drug testing is increasingly being carried out by organisations due to the general recognition that the use of alcohol and other recreational drugs can present a hazard in the workplace and create risk as far as health and safety.

The main goals of urine testing include:

To improve workplace safety

To improve productivity

To reduce product/service defects

To help employees overcome or modify their patterns of use of such substances

Screening may also be required for athletes, for legal or forensic testing, medical screening or monitoring pain medication usage.

Who can conduct the test?

Under Australian standards, the collection of urine for drug screening must be directly witnessed by a health professional to confirm that the urine in the sample cup came from you. This is done in a professional and sensitive manner at all times with maximum regard for your privacy.

Robina Bulk Billing Medical Centre’s collectors are trained to provide this service in accordance with AS/NZS 4308:2008.

Scheduled Cost.

Conducted at the Medical Centre: $70

Lab Drug Screening (urine sent to pathology if test shows positive): $120

Drug and Alcohol Screening Patient Information.

A urine drug screening is conducted for illicit drugs including cannabis, opiates (heroin), methamphetamines, amphetamines, benzodiazepines (antidepressants and sleeping tablets), cocaine and alcohol. Please note that cannabis can stay in your system for days after occasional use, and weeks after regular use.

If you are on medication, make sure you declare it on your health assessment questionnaire as it will get detected anyway.

If you drink more than 2-3 cups of water before having your urine collected, you may provide a sample which is too dilute for testing. This is determined by measuring the level of creatinine in the urine. If the creatinine level is too low, the sample cannot be tested and must be recollected.