Definitions

Definition - What does Express Test mean?

An express test refers to an initial drug screening performed on-site by an employer who collects and analyzes a urine specimen to identify drug metabolites pending a fast turnaround on negative or positive test results. Also called point-of-collection testing (POCT), employers often administer express tests as an accessible, convenient, and cost-effective drug screening method.

SureHire explains Express Test

Though an express test follows a transparent methodology for determining whether a urine specimen is negative or positive, employers can face conflicting issues where a non-negative result hedges on either a positive or inconclusive test result. Since POCT-based drug screens utilize a blanket system with cutoff threshold range values corresponding with laboratory test results, express tests can compromise the integrity of arriving at otherwise legitimate test result findings. Moreover, the Canadian Model for Providing a Safe Workplace aligned with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines doesn’t recognize express tests (POCT) as a definitive criterion for accuracy based on technicalities that pose a liability.

While express tests can be a preferred option, laboratory confirmation measures can help level discrepancies against non-negative scenarios that pose loopholes where the outcome for appointing individuals to safety-sensitive positions warrants further testing to override the difference.