When it comes to performing drug test collections, coverage is a critical component. At Quest Diagnostics we have more than 1,000 company-owned and operated Patient Services Centers located across the country. Additionally, more than 5,000 third-party sites fill out our network. And while these sites collection thousands of specimens each day, we have seen that on-site collection events at the place of employment are becoming increasingly popular.

We have more than 6,000 mobile collectors available to perform these events. Due to the increased logistical complexity of performing and on-site collection event, we do ask that all requests to schedule these events be received a minimum of five business days prior to the event date. With that said, to ensure your requested date, we do recommend providing as much advanced notice as possible. To receive more information or to schedule an on-site collection event, contact our Quest Diagnostics National Customer Support Center at 800-877-7484.

The information that follows outlines the facilities required as well as the instructions that the collector’s will be following.

In order to ensure the security and integrity of the collection process, restrooms must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Restroom must be dedicated to the collection event and not available to the general public during the event. The only individuals permitted in the restroom during the event are the collector and each individual donor.
• Single stall restrooms are preferred although multi-stall restrooms are permissible. If a multi-stall restroom is used, only one (1) stall will be used for the event as only one (1) donor is permitted in the restroom at a time. If multiple collectors are requested, there must be a dedicated restroom available for each collector. On average, one collector is able to complete approximately 6 to 7 donors per hour.
• Collectors will be responsible for securing the restroom prior to beginning any collection event and again between each donor. If any outside person enters the restroom between donors, the ExamOne collector must do a full inspection of the restroom and re-secure.

Listed below are the DOT’s 10 Steps to Collection Site Security and Integrity which all collectors must follow for all collections:

1. Pay careful attention to employees throughout the collection process.
2. Ensure that there is no unauthorized access into the collection areas and that undetected access (e.g., through a door not in view) is not possible.
3. Make sure that donors show proper picture ID.
4. Make sure donors empty pockets; remove outer garments (e.g., coveralls, jacket, coat, hat); leave briefcases, purses, and bags behind; and wash their hands.
5. Maintain personal control of the specimen and CCF at all times during the collection.
6. Secure any water sources or otherwise make them unavailable to employees (e.g., turn off water inlet, tape handles to prevent opening faucets, secure tank lids).
7. Ensure that the water in the toilet and tank (if applicable) has bluing (coloring) agent in it. Tape or otherwise secure shut any movable toilet tank top, or put bluing in the tank.
8. Ensure that no soap, disinfectants, cleaning agents, or other possible adulterants are present.
9. Inspect the site to ensure that no foreign or unauthorized substances are present.
10. Secure areas and items (e.g., ledges, trash receptacles, paper towel holders, under-sink areas, ceiling tiles) that appear suitable for concealing contaminants.

One of our primary goals as your workplace drug testing laboratory is to provide fast, convenient collection and testing options that fit into your donors’ schedule. With that in mind, we are happy to announce that with our online collection scheduling system, collection visits can now be booked more quickly and easily than ever. Donors can locate the nearest Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center (PSC), set up appointments and print location maps with ease, all from the convenience of their computer. With these reduced wait times donor satisfaction is sure to increase.

1.         Click the “Collection Site Locator” icon on the right side of our home page.
2.         Enter your address and select the distance criteria using the drop-down box.
3.         Select the reason for testing and then the type of specimen being collected.
4.         Click the “Search” button.
5.         The locator will display a list of PSCs based on your selection criteria.
6.         Select a PSC that meets your requirements and that has a “Make Appt” link in the right-hand column.                         (Please note that not all PSCs offer appointment scheduling.)
7.         Follow the instructions to make an appointment for the time that best meets your needs.

Our online scheduling tool is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If your donors do not have access to the Internet they can call 1-888-277-8772 to set up their appointments.

Patient Service Center (PSC) Checklist
Each donor must bring the following items when he or she visits a PSC:

•           A photo ID
•           The custody-and-control form he or she received when the drug screen was set up

As always, walk-ins are also welcome, on a first come, first served basis.

If you have additional questions please contact your sales representative or the National Customer Support Center at 800-877-7484.

Online specimen collection scheduling — just another way that Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions is making drug testing more convenient.

Thousands of our customers rely on our network of more than 1,000 Patient Service Centers for their specimen collection needs. But what you may not know is that we can bring the collection event into your company. We are pleased offer 24/7 Emergency and Scheduled Onsite collections. These mobile collection services offer the convenience of an onsite collector, with the security and assurance that the process will run with the expertise that you can rely on from Quest Diagnostics.

If you have a 24/7 Emergency Collection need, simply fill out this online form and one of our collection specialists will reach out to you.

To schedule an Onsite Collection, fill out this online form.

We are excited to rollout our new and improved Online Collection Training modules. Over the past several months we have worked to update the content, improve the flow, and to make these modules more user-friendly. Our Online Collection Training is a great way to train new hires or review the procedures for collecting urine, hair and oral-fluid drug testing specimens. Click here to access these free collection training modules.

Quest Diagnostics is committed to providing your company with the widest variety of specimen collection options, not only within the United States, but throughout the world.

We now have strategic partnerships with collection sites across the globe to provide full service specimen collection options. Countries currently serviced include: 

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Grand Bahama, Grand Cayman Island, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South America, St. Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Ireland and the U.K. (England and Northern Ireland), Romania, Thailand, Virgin Islands, UAE and the Ukraine

Our ever-expanding international collection services footprint ensures our ability to service numerous geographic locations. Once collected, specimens can be transported to either the United States or India for lab based testing, and reported to you via the same method you currently use.

For a complete listing of international collection locations, please email us your request.

At Quest Diagnostics, we hold our collection sites to high standards for quality and professionalism. One way that we ensure this high quality is by conducting anonymous donor collections each month at a sampling of Patient Service Centers and Preferred Collection Sites. These collections validate that sites and collectors are following the appropriate collection procedures. If we discover an issue, we provide a report to the collection site that outlines the deficiencies and makes recommendations for training and improvements. Most sites never have a problem, and with programs like this, we are working to ensure that they never do.

For the past month, Federally-mandated return-to-duty and follow-up drug test collections have been directly observed. If this rule affects your company, we want to let you know what we are doing to enable Preferred Collection sites to perform these collections with the expertise and efficiency that you have come to expect.

- On our online collection site locator we have added the service “Observed Collections” to any site who has indicated that they will conduct observed collections. If you need to find a site that will perform an observed collection, this is the simplest way to find it.

- We hosted WebEx sessions titled “Direct Observation – The Who, The Why and The When” conducted by Mary Hines, the President elect of SAPAA. More than 150 collection site participants attended these sessions.

- We provided all sites with the DOT’s Direct Observation instruction sheet.

These simple yet effective steps are enabling our customers and collection sites to make the transition as smoothly and professionally as possible.

The DOT has published an extensive library of documentation surrounding this change. Visit the DOT website to learn more.