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For the past 35 years, DrugPak has been a trailblazer in the drug testing industry. From introducing cutting-edge technology to developing solutions that set the standard for accuracy and efficiency, DrugPak has always been at the forefront of innovation. And as we celebrate three decades of excellence, we are more committed than ever to shaping the future of drug testing. A Legacy of Innovation Since our inception, DrugPak has been driven by one mission: to make drug testing more reliable, accessible, and user-friendly. Over the years, we've consistently raised the bar with products designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Whether it’s enhancing the accuracy of test results or streamlining the testing process, we've always focused on pushing the limits of what's possible Our commitment to innovation is not just about staying ahead of the curve--it’s about setting new standards that others can follow. The technology we’ve introduced over the past 35 years has not only transformed how drug testing is performed but has also improved the accuracy and efficiency of results, ultimately helping to keep workplaces and communities safer. Two of our major innovations were brought to market back in 2000 and 2001. We were the first to offer encrypted email. At this point drug testing results had been being emailed for a few years. We recognized the potential risk associated with the sensitive information that drug test results contained being sent without security measures. In the following year, 2001, we offered our clients the ability to securely self-host their own web portal. These two offerings helped set a bar of security and software flexibility for not only our customers but the industry. The Future of Drug Testing While we’re proud of the advancements we’ve made so far, we know that the future of drug testing holds even greater potential. As new challenges arise, so do new opportunities for innovation. At DrugPak, we’re already looking ahead to what’s next. From the rise of non-invasive testing methods to the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning, we’re exploring cutting-edge technologies that will make drug testing faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective than ever before. Since 2018, DrugPak has been using AI to accelerate the drug testing process. Some of the ways this is done include handling of documents and document identification. DrugPak’s web software is able to read the Department of Transportation (DOT) flags for substance type, identify if signatures are present and match documents with data to expedite the overall drug testing process. But we’re not just investing in technology--we’re also investing in the people behind the technology. Our team is continuously growing, with experts in science, engineering, and data analytics all working together to bring the industry the best solutions. We believe that by combining human expertise with advanced technology, we can continue to lead the way in drug testing for years to come. Continuing the Legacy For 35 years, DrugPak has been proud to serve clients across a wide range of industries, from healthcare and education to transportation and corporate settings. As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue building on the legacy we’ve established and remain a valued and trusted partner in drug testing. The journey doesn’t end here--there’s so much more to come. Our commitment to providing innovative, reliable, and accurate drug testing solutions is stronger than ever. We’re ready to continue leading the way, and we invite you to join us as we shape the next era of drug testing. Visit our website to learn more: drugpak.com © 2010-2025 DrugPak – No portion of this article may be reproduced, retransmitted, posted on a website, or used in any manner without the written consent of the DrugPak. When permission is granted to reproduce this article in any way, full attribution to the author and copyright holder is required. This information is provided for educational purposes only. Reader retains full responsibility for the use of the information contained herein.
As organizations continue to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, particularly in sectors such as government contracting, healthcare, and public safety, the use of technology is critical for ensuring compliance and improving operational efficiency. For businesses and HR professionals involved in industries that require drug testing, adopting cloud-based solutions like Azure Government can streamline data management, enhance compliance, and safeguard sensitive information. DrugPak Government offers all the benefits you’ve come to expect from DrugPak Enterprise. In addition, it runs on Azure Government. In this post, we’ll explore how Azure Government can be an essential tool for organizations managing drug testing protocols, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, and maintaining the privacy of test results and how partnering with DrugPak is beneficial for government contractors who need to satisfy government expectations. What is Azure Government? Azure Government is a cloud platform developed by Microsoft specifically for the U.S. government, offering services and capabilities tailored to meet the strict compliance, security, and data sovereignty requirements of government agencies and contractors. Azure Government operates separately from the global Azure cloud, ensuring that all data remains within U.S. borders and meets regulatory standards like FedRAMP, FISMA, and ITAR (Microsoft Azure). For businesses and HR professionals dealing with sensitive data—like drug tests, background checks, and physical exam results and medical records--DrugPakGovernment provides a highly secure, compliant environment where organizations can manage this information with confidence. How Does Drug Testing Relate to Government Compliance? In many industries, particularly those governed by federal or state regulations, drug testing is often a mandatory procedure to ensure workplace safety, regulatory adherence, and overall employee well-being. Employee screening protocols must meet strict standards, particularly in safety-sensitive industries such as:
In these sectors, businesses must maintain rigorous drug testing records, including test results, medical history, and compliance certifications. DrugPak Government can simplify the management of these records while ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. How Azure Government Supports Drug Testing Compliance 1. Data Security and Privacy Drug testing records, physical exams, and background checks can contain sensitive information that is protected by law. Azure Government's robust security framework ensures that data is encrypted both at rest and in transit, providing peace of mind that test results and related data are secure. Azure Government complies with a wide range of U.S. government regulations, including:
By utilizing Azure Government’s security features, businesses and HR professionals can ensure that drug testing data remains confidential and compliant with regulatory standards. 2. Efficient Record Keeping and Management Managing and storing drug testing records can be complex, especially for large organizations or those with multiple locations. Azure Government offers scalable cloud storage that allows businesses to manage drug testing records, lab results, and training certifications without the burden of physical document storage. Additionally, you can implement automated workflows to streamline the process of capturing, storing, and retrieving data. Features include:
This efficient approach to data management ensures your organization remains organized and ready for any potential audits or inspections. 3. Real-Time Reporting and Analysis For businesses operating in regulated industries, having access to real-time reporting and analysis is essential. DrugPak Government provides powerful tools to create dashboards and reports that can monitor compliance with drug testing policies, track trends in drug use across your workforce, and assess the effectiveness of your testing programs. These insights can help HR professionals and business owners:
For organizations already using HR management software or drug testing systems, DrugPak Government integrates seamlessly with third-party applications. This ensures that employee screening data can flow smoothly across platforms, eliminating the need for manual data entry or duplication. DrugPak Government’s API capabilities enable you to connect your drug testing program with your existing HR systems, allowing automatic updates and real-time syncing of test results, employee information, and compliance reports. This level of integration minimizes the risk of human error and ensures a smooth, automated process. The Benefits of Using DrugPak Government for Drug Testing Management 1. Compliance Confidence. Azure Government’s certifications and compliance features mean you can be confident that your organization’s employee screening program adheres to the highest regulatory standards. 2. Scalability. As your business grows, DrugPak Government scales to meet your needs. Whether you have a small team or multiple locations, the platform can handle increasing amounts of data, ensuring consistent performance without compromising security. 3. Cost Efficiency. By shifting to a cloud-based solution like DrugPak Government, you reduce the need for physical storage, IT infrastructure, and maintenance. The pay-as-you-go pricing model offers flexibility and cost efficiency. 4. Streamlined Processes. Automating workflows and integrating systems reduces administrative overhead and streamlines the drug testing process, freeing up time for HR professionals to focus on more strategic tasks. 5. Enhanced Collaboration. DrugPak Government allows secure collaboration between HR teams, compliance officers, and other stakeholders, ensuring that everyone is aligned when it comes to drug testing protocols and compliance. Conclusion For organizations in regulated industries, ensuring compliance with drug testing laws is not just a best practice--it’s a legal requirement. DrugPak Government provides the tools, security, and scalability needed to manage drug testing data efficiently while maintaining the highest level of compliance with government regulations. By leveraging Azure Government’s capabilities, DrugPak Government allows businesses to simplify the complexities of drug testing management, reduce the risk of non-compliance, and create a safer, more productive workplace. For organizations navigating the complexities of drug testing and employee screening compliance, DrugPak Government offers a powerful solution to ensure that you stay on track while safeguarding sensitive employee information. Contact DrugPak to learn more about DrugPak Government. Call 800-321-7826 x 208 or email [email protected]. © 2010-2025 DrugPak – No portion of this article may be reproduced, retransmitted, posted on a website, or used in any manner without the written consent of the DrugPak. When permission is granted to reproduce this article in any way, full attribution to the author and copyright holder is required. References 1. Microsoft Azure. (n.d.). Azure Government Overview. Retrieved from https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/overview/azure-government/. 2. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). (n.d.). Health Information Privacy. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html. 3. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2020). Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. Retrieved from https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-5/final. 4. FedRAMP. (n.d.). FedRAMP Overview. Retrieved from https://www.fedramp.gov/. This information is provided for educational purposes only. Reader retains full responsibility for the use of the information contained herein.
Oral fluid drug testing is on the rise according to three new reports—Current Consulting Group’s 26th Annual Drug Testing Industry Report, First Advantage’s 2024 Annual Trends Report, and the 2024 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index (DTI). When the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued final regulations for oral fluid testing of federal workers in 2019, it predicted a transition rate from urine to oral fluid of 7% the first year and 25% to 30% within 3 to 4 years. They then applied that same transition rate to drug testing mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The two markets combined would account for nearly 2 million new oral fluid tests per year. But a lot has changed in the five years since that prediction was made and those changes appear to be pushing the transition rate higher. There are forces at work that are encouraging employers to consider alternative testing methods, particularly oral fluid testing. These trends include state marijuana laws that restrict the use of traditional testing methods, economic trends that are forcing companies to cut costs where possible, an ever-tightening labor market that is making hiring qualified, drug-free workers more challenging, and the need to streamline the overall drug testing process so it is more applicant- and employee-friendly. Oral fluid drug testing, both lab-based and rapid-result testing, addresses all of those needs and as such drug testing providers and employers seem to be taking notice. Current Consulting Group’s Survey (CCG) Of course, a major factor driving up interest in oral fluid testing was the decision in 2023 by DOT to issue final regulations for lab-based oral fluid testing. In CCG’s 26th Annual Drug Testing Industry Survey, co-sponsored by DrugPak, when drug testing providers were asked “Do you believe that DOT’s issuance of final regulations for lab-based oral fluid testing resulted in more interest among employers for oral fluid testing?”, 67.6% said yes versus only 29.7% who said no. Further, 23.4% of survey participants said they were considering adding lab-based oral fluid and 22.97% that said they were considering adding rapid-result oral fluid to their service offerings. Together that represents over 46% of participants who are considering adding some form of oral fluid testing to their offerings; 5 years ago that percentage would have been much lower. DOT-covered employers are waiting for several conditions to be met by laboratories and other entities before being able to use oral fluid for mandated testing. When asked “Do you believe oral fluid drug testing under the new DOT regulations will become available in 2024?”, 48.2% said yes while 51.8% said no. Whether you believe it will be in 2024, or sometime in 2025, there is no doubt now it is coming, and this availability will only further increase the acceptance of oral fluid testing, and the market share it will garner. New laws in California and Washington that, among other things, prohibit employers from discriminating against marijuana users based on the results of drug tests that only reveal the presence of the “non-psychoactive” metabolite of cannabis are also causing some employers to switch to oral fluid testing. In contrast to urine testing, oral fluid tests reveal the presence of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or parent THC, generally accepted as the “psychoactive” ingredient in marijuana. When asked: “Have you had clients add or switch to oral fluid drug testing in California and/or Washington because of the new laws?”, 63% said yes. Flashing back to CCG’s 2023 industry survey, 46% said they believe that oral fluid testing will be the most common drug testing method in the future (up from 44% the previous year, the same percentage that predicted it will be urine testing (which dropped from 50% the previous year). First Advantage Trends Report i Perhaps a more dramatic indicator that oral fluid testing is on the rise is found in a new report from First Advantage. Quoting from the company’s 2024 Annual Trends Report, “Customers are quickly adopting oral fluid drug screens. Over the last two years, the use of oral fluid-based screens grew by 74%, and it now makes up 30% of drug screening.” That Oral fluid screens comprise 30% of the overall drug tests performed by one of the world’s largest employee screening companies is significant but not necessarily surprising. What may be surprising to some is the fact that First Advantage reported “Instant oral fluid screens comprise two thirds of that volume.” Rapid oral fluid testing solves specific challenges experienced with traditional testing methods. For example, rapid oral fluid testing solves delayed results from laboratories, particularly as it pertains to pre-employment drug screens. In the CCG survey, 38% said that compared to a year ago it is taking longer to get results back from laboratories; only 9% said it is taking less time. Quoting from the First Advantage report: “Turnaround time for a negative instant oral fluid drug screen is 20 minutes or less. For most [job] candidates, that means results are known on the spot while they’re filling out paperwork. For non-negative results that require confirmation testing or for lab-based oral fluid screens, the turnaround time is nearly a half-day faster than urine-based lab screens.” Referring again to the CCG survey, 53.6% said they have clients that currently use rapid-result oral fluid testing. When asked “Do you believe that the use of POCT or rapid-result testing will increase or decrease in the next 3 years?”, 95.4% said it will either increase (67.7%) or stay the same (27.7%). When asked “If you do not currently sell a certain testing method, which one(s) do you anticipate selling in the future?” 22.97% said rapid-result oral fluid testing. Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index ii Another problem that oral fluid testing solves is drug test cheating. Why? First, every oral fluid collection is 100% observed, which means that a donor has virtually no opportunity to tamper with the sample. Second, most drug test cheating techniques commonly used with urine are either not possible or practical with oral fluid such as adding a foreign substance to the sample or using a substitute sample. This is particularly important for employers to know because, according to the 2024 Quest DTI: “The percentage of employees in the general U.S. workforce whose drug test showed signs of tampering increased by more than six-fold in 2023 versus the prior year, the highest rate ever in more than 30 years of annual reporting.” Suhash Harwani, Ph.D., Senior Director of Science for Workforce Health Solutions at Quest Diagnostics said: "The increased rate of both substituted and invalid specimens indicates that some American workers are going to great lengths to attempt to subvert the drug testing process.” And at the same time that drug test cheating was on the rise, oral fluid positivity rates also increased. According to the DTI, 3.3% of all oral fluid tests in 2023 were positive, up slightly from 3.2% the previous year. Post-accident oral fluid positivity increased from 9.9% in 2022 to 10.9% in 2023, while pre-employment testing positives increased from 2.8% to 3.0% over that same time. Conclusion As drug abuse continues to increase and as more states move to legalize the so-called recreational use of marijuana, drug testing has proven to be an essential component of many companies’ safety programs. Hence, it’s not really a question of whether a company should conduct drug testing, but rather how to conduct drug testing. Oral fluid testing with its tighter window of detection (typically 24 hours for marijuana) and ability to detect very recent drug use represents an ideal alternative to traditional drug testing methods. In states like California and Washington, where the use of urine testing for marijuana is prohibited in many situations, oral fluid testing makes it possible for employers to continue to experience all the benefits of drug testing while simultaneously complying with local marijuana laws. From the reports cited here, it is clear that employers and drug testing providers are getting the message about oral fluid testing. It appears that the age of oral fluid testing has arrived. © 2010-2025 DrugPak – No portion of this article may be reproduced, retransmitted, posted on a website, or used in any manner without the written consent of the DrugPak. When permission is granted to reproduce this article in any way, full attribution to the author and copyright holder is required. [i] First Advantage 2024 Annual Trends Report. June 2024. https://fadv.com/2024trends/ [ii] Workforce Drug Test Cheating Surged in 2023, Finds Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index Analysis of Nearly 10 Million Drug Tests. Quest Diagnostics. May 2024. https://newsroom.questdiagnostics.com/2024-05-15-Workforce-Drug-Test-Cheating-Surged-in-2023,-Finds-Quest-Diagnostics-Drug-Testing-Index-Analysis-of-Nearly-10-Million-Drug-Tests |