Definition - What does Non-Negative Drug Test mean?
In general, a non-negative drug test refers to any specimen which, upon testing for the presence of a targeted substance, produces any non-negative result.
Specifically, federal drug-testing rules for urine drug testing categorize a result as non-negative if the test result for the specimen is positive, adulterated, substituted, or invalid. For example, a specimen may be categorized as non-negative if its validity testing indicates that the specimen has been diluted or adulterated. In these instances, tampering may prevent the specimen from testing positive for the targeted drug but cannot rule out the possibility of drug use by the test subject.
SureHire explains Non-Negative Drug Test
A non-negative specimen is not the same as a positive specimen. A drug test result is categorized as positive if testing indicates the presence of a targeted drug or its metabolite at a level above the minimum threshold or cut off. However, a non-negative specimen also does not clearly indicate that the test subject has not used prohibited drugs.
While a non-negative test result carries the implication of habitual drug use, polarizing opinions exist surrounding the link between drug impairment and work-related accidents. Employers who undergo training to observe behavioral cues suggesting drug abuse can also address fatigue and stress, which can often be concurrent factors attributed to cognitive dysfunction and physical limitations. Hence, the Ontario Law Reform Commission highlights performance tests as a criterion for gauging psychomotor skills, a useful approach in overriding preconceived biases against non-negative test results.
With the legalization of marijuana, for example, affecting industrial sectors throughout Canada, many employers can be hard-pressed in recognizing human rights over recreational use against a drug and alcohol-free policy in the workplace. For safety-sensitive positions that require operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), non-negative test results demand scrutiny through laboratory testing to clear individuals for public transit of freight. When entering the United States, Canadian drivers become subject to the Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines for standardized drug testing procedures in line with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) statute.
