Every hire is an investment. You spend time recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and training. Pre-employment drug testing helps protect that investment by screening out candidates who may bring safety risks, absenteeism, or liability into your workplace.
Why test before you hire?
It is far easier to avoid a problem than to fix one. An employee with an active substance use problem can affect safety, productivity, morale, and customer service. Once that person is on the payroll, addressing the issue takes time, documentation, and sometimes legal counsel.
A pre-employment screen sends a clear message to every applicant: this company takes safety seriously. Many employers find that simply announcing a testing requirement discourages some applicants who would not pass from applying at all.
How the process works
- Conditional offer: Most employers test after extending a conditional job offer.
- Order the test: With Elite Services, you place the order online and the applicant receives an email with a barcode.
- Visit a collection site: The applicant shows the barcode on their phone, or a printout, at a nearby clinic.
- Lab analysis and review: Specimens are analyzed, and non-negative lab results are reviewed by a Medical Review Officer before being reported.
- Results delivered: You receive the result and make your hiring decision according to your policy.
Choosing the right test
Not every position needs the same screen. A standard 5-panel test covers the most commonly abused drug classes, while 10-panel and expanded panels add substances such as benzodiazepines and other prescription drugs. DOT-covered positions must use the federally required panel and procedures. Rapid on-site tests are also available when speed matters, with lab confirmation for non-negative results.
Be consistent and compliant
Test every candidate for the same position the same way, and follow your written policy. Check your state’s rules on notice, timing, and marijuana, since these can affect how you test and how you act on results.
The bottom line
Pre-employment testing is one of the most cost-effective safety tools available to employers. Elite Services Workplace Screening makes it simple to order, fast to complete, and easy to manage, for one hire or hundreds, anywhere in the country.
Ready to protect your workplace? Elite Services Workplace Screening provides nationwide drug testing, DOT compliance, background searches, MVRs, and E-Verify. Call 888-738-9297 or contact us online to get started.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change; consult qualified counsel about your specific situation.