Preemployment qualitative urine toxicology screening
Lewy, R.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association 25(8): 579-580
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0096-1736 PMID: 6886865 Document Number: 218326
Five hundred routine preemployment urine toxicology examinations were performed on prospective hospital employees in 1981. Thirty-three (6.6%) examinations were positive for one or more of either Valium, barbiturates, amphetamines, phencyclidine or opiates. Only 13 (2.6%) were confirmed to be positive. Of those with confirmed positive results, only one applicant was denied employment. Significantly, that case would have been suspected during the clinical preemployment examination. These results indicate that including a routine urine toxicology screen in a preemployment examination may not be cost-effective.