Psychemedics + Urine Testing?

More safety sensitive businesses are adding Psychemedics to drug testing protocols. Here is why.

If you are considering a Psychemedics hair test vs Urine you are in good company. For example, J.B. Hunt extended their DOT-mandated urine testing program in 2005 to include a Psychemedics hair test. A urine test is too easy to cheat and Hunt wanted to strengthen their pre-employment drug screening.  Today, with escalating insurance and litigation costs, more trucking companies focus on sustaining drug-free fleets. And although urine testing is still the DOT standard, its detection shortcomings are well known. As a result, companies turn to Psychemedics to identify high risk drivers before an accident happens. In fact, 7 of 10 board member companies for the Trucking Alliance-an industry organization dedicated to driver and roadway safety-add Psychemedics to urine testing. Beyond that, both the Trucking Alliance and American Trucking Associations call for DOT approval of hair testing as an accepted option.

Four Reasons Leading Trucking Firms Use Psychemedics.

Evading Our Hair Test Is Nearly Impossible.

Cheating a urine test is easy, with tactics that are highly effective, broadly known and frequently practiced. For example, chemical adulteration, sample substitution or short-term abstinence are all tactics that work. However, with a Psychemedics drug screen using hair, the sample donor is always within sight of the collector.  This means substitution or doctoring is not possible. Beyond this, Psychemedics has a wide window of detection—that “look back” period where drugs are detected—-of 90 days. As a result, and unlike urine testing, halting usage for a few days never evades a Psychemedics hair test.

Our Drug Screen Has The Highest Detection Rate.

In side-by-side tests conducted on over 150,000 drivers Psychemedics identified 10 drug users for every one detected by a urine test. As an outcome, that 10X detection rate advantage lowers hiring risks. Psychemedics’ trucking clients’ results verify it.

KLLM Transport has used Psychemedics for applicant drug testing since 2018. Because of the improved detection, by mid-2020,  we identified 900 drug users that passed the urine drug screen and would have moved forward in the hiring process. Because not all firms use Psychemedics, they likely are still on the road. And they may be driving for you.

Our Hair Test Finds More Of The Most Dangerous Drugs.

Most evaluators of a Psychemedics hair test vs urine, expect a difference in positive rates but are shocked at the staggering number of the more dangerous drugs Psychemedics finds. Industry data (Chart To Right) validates that Psychemedics delivers a significantly higher overall rate. But most important, it provides significantly better detection of the opioids, cocaine and psychostimulants that represent the highest risk to a business.

A Psychemedics Hair Test Deters Usage.

When Detection is a Certainty, many drug users change behaviors or move to companies that only test with urine.  Consequently, investing in undesirable applicants is less likely. This is great news for Psychemedics clients; not great for those only testing with urine.

But the biggest benefit may be the halo effect on DOT testing. As J.B. Hunt found, DOT random and post-accident positive rates (red and green lines) dropped rapidly and significantly after implementing Psychemedics testing. Psychemedics’ Deterrent Impact drove them down. (Chart)

Best Test For Business.

Industry data on positive rate comparisons between a Psychemedics hair test vs urine, the deterrent impact that discourages drug use and reduces DOT test positive rates, and endorsement by the Trucking Alliance and American Trucking Associations all point to one conclusion. Adding Psychemedics to a DOT urine-based testing program is just good business.