On May 9, 2017, Governor Terry Branstad signed into law an Act allowing private sector pre-employment drug testing using hair samples. This law went into effect on July 1, 2017. Prior to the passage of this law, Iowa only allowed private sector testing for drugs of abuse through urine, blood, and oral fluid.
Psychemedics was instrumental in getting the law changed to include hair, which has a much longer look-back period than other matrices. Now, less than one month after the law went into effect, the Iowa Department of Public Health has issued a letter approving Psychemedics to conduct private sector pre-employment drug testing using hair.
The Iowa Department of Public Health is currently in the process of formulating administrative rules to govern the testing of hair for drugs of abuse. These rules must become final before testing can begin. Psychemedics is hopeful that the rules will become finalized in the coming few months, and looks forward to providing companies in Iowa the same platinum-standard in testing it provides to companies across the United States and the world.
About Psychemedics
Psychemedics is the pioneer and global leader of testing for drugs of abuse using hair analysis. With over 30 years of continuous innovation, Psychemedics is the only company to develop and patent a process that releases virtually 100% of ingested drugs from the inside of the hair. We believe Psychemedics’ superior science delivers the most sensitive FDA 510(k) cleared tests in the world resulting in unmatched detection rates.
Psychemedics’ results, science, and people are trusted by the world’s most safety-sensitive industries, the largest law enforcement agencies as well as by schools and elite institutions around the globe. The most recognized companies in the Fortune 500 rely on Psychemedics to ensure they are building drug-free, safe, and productive workforces. We make businesses, our nation’s highways, and campuses safer.