Non-DOT Rapid Pre-Employment Drug Tests in Oregon.

When you are hiring crews quickly, waiting on a lab can feel like the slowest part of onboarding. A rapid, or instant, drug test gives a preliminary read on site. It can be a good fit for non-DOT positions, as long as it is done the way Oregon requires.

What a rapid test is

A rapid test is a cup or cassette screening test that reads the specimen on the spot, usually within minutes. It is an initial screen. A negative result can be reported as negative. A non-negative result is only presumptive: it means the specimen needs laboratory confirmation before anyone acts on it.

What Oregon requires

Oregon regulates onsite drug screening under ORS 438.435. In summary:

• The entity performing onsite screening must register with the state each year, for a fee of up to $50.
• Operators must be trained on the tests by the manufacturer.
• The entity must certify that it follows the FDA package insert and the manufacturer's instructions, and that chain-of-custody procedures are followed.
• When a positive result could affect employment, the same specimen must be sent to a licensed clinical laboratory for confirmation.

In practice that means a rapid test speeds up the first step, but it does not let you skip confirmation before a hiring decision.

Rapid test or lab test?

Rapid tests suit high-volume hiring, construction and industrial crews that need to start quickly, and sites where getting a candidate to a clinic is hard. Lab-based tests suit programs that want a verified result, including MRO review, on every test, and they are the only option for DOT-regulated positions.

Rapid tests cannot be used for DOT testing

Federal DOT rules require lab-based urine testing through an HHS-certified laboratory with MRO review. If the job is a DOT safety-sensitive position, such as commercial driving, a rapid test does not satisfy the pre-employment requirement under 49 CFR 382.301.

Tips for using rapid tests well

1. Use them only for non-DOT positions, and say so in your policy.
2. Make sure your provider meets Oregon's registration, training and confirmation requirements.
3. Treat any non-negative result as presumptive and confirm it before acting.
4. Apply the same process to every candidate for the same role.
5. Keep results confidential and document every step.

Work with Butterfield

Butterfield offers walk-in drug and alcohol testing at our Sherwood, Bend and Klamath Falls clinics and 24/7 onsite collections for employers. Call (503) 925-8428 or schedule a test, and we will help you pick the right mix of testing for each role.