The integrity of the sample produced by an individual is of paramount importance to the drug testing laboratory. Traditionally only creatinine has been used as a marker for confirming the validity of a human urine sample, but for synthetic urine producers this is a cheap and easy addition to a solution as well as colour to “fool” instant devices and screening machines alike.

While creatinine usually works well, it can be affected by clinical conditions and situational factors not related to attempted adulteration. These include drinking tea and coffee (both of which are mild diuretics), loss of muscle mass, renal dysfunction, and pregnancy.

Due to the rise in demand for fake urine, Safework Health’s drug testing laboratories have added additional testing analytes to their screening immunoassay methods. The addition of Urea and Uric Acid and calcium has led to a significant increase in our detection of fake urine.

Individuals trying to pass a drug test may use urinary adulterants. These are substances that are added to urine after collection to interfere with drug tests. Examples include:

• Stealth (peroxidase and peroxide)
• Klear (nitrite)
• Clean ADD-IT-ive (glutaraldehyde)
• Urine Luck (pyridinium chlorochromate [PCC])
• Iodine. Iodine is a strong oxidizing agent which can oxidize the common marijuana metabolites, commonly termed “carboxy-THC”
• Pawpaw juice. Pawpaw contains the enzyme papain, which significantly reduces the concentration of the marijuana metabolite, carboxy-THC, when added to urine.

Fortunately, detection of these adulterants is relatively easy as Safework Health’s drug screening service also tests for oxidants and pH in urine which the majority of these adulterants rely on.

Contact us today for information on how we can keep your workplace safe from synthetic urine.

Mal was born and raised in a little place called Carbunup River in the south-west corner of WA. As the son of a wharfie and farmer there was great consternation when he decided to stay at school and complete year 12 and even greater concern when he announced he wanted to go to university. After completing his undergraduate degree, he worked in a variety of roles for pathology companies including a 6-year run as the NSW manager for Healthscope Pathology.

In early 2012 Mal, with the help and support of his wife Belinda Carlisle, set up Safework Health. The rationale was relatively simple, in that we believed that we could provide a more seamless and easier experience for our customers by being a laboratory that focussed exclusively on workplace drug and alcohol testing.

As the co-founder and Managing Director, Mal and Belinda commenced at a single location at Welshpool in WA with six staff. Since then, the company has grown to seven locations across Australia and more than 200 staff. Safework Health now works with some of Australia’s largest and most respected organisations and is an industry leader in the provision of occupational health services.

When time permits, Mal enjoys chasing a little white ball around and intermittently hitting a shot in the intended direction of the hole as well as spending as much time as he can with his two boys and Belinda.

Connect with Mal on LinkedIn.

We offer our clients exceptional sales, operational, scientific, and technical support across our areas of expertise. As a vertically integrated provider, Safework Laboratories offers a seamless all-in-one drug and alcohol testing solution, which will continue under our Safework Health brand.

In the last 12 months, we have grown our portfolio from workplace drug and alcohol testing services to include pre-employment medical services. With sites in Darwin, Perth, and Adelaide, 2023 will see an expansion of pre-employment medical services nationally.

We will also introduce NATA-accredited biological health surveillance testing for metals and solvents this year, further assisting our clients to keep their workers safe from harm.

Our new trading name, Safework Health, more accurately reflects the range of health and safety services we now provide. Our legal company name and ABN have not changed; however, you will see our new name, website, and updated logo replacing the Safework Laboratories brand. Our excellent customer service and operational delivery will continue.

Our goal remains the same; Safework Health aims to provide quality health and safety workplace services, assisting our clients in maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive workforce.

When asked about the change and Safework Health’s future, Mal Beacham, Managing Director, commented, “Since our inception in 2012, Safework Laboratories has innovated, evolved and listened. Our clients’ ongoing support and the efforts of our staff remain our two greatest assets, and we will never take our clients’ support for granted. We will continue to listen and work with our clients in a collaborative partnership to provide exceptional occupational health services. Thank you for contributing to our journey since 2012, and best wishes for 2023.”

In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about pre-employment drug and alcohol testing — from what they are for and the different types of methods available to the potential steps an employer must take if they suspect a job applicant is misusing substances. Read on to learn more.

Employers use pre-employment medical drug tests to identify potential employees who may be someone with substance use disorder or have been recently.

They involve analysing a sample of a person’s urine, saliva, or hair for the presence of illicit substances or drugs that could impact an employee’s job performance or safety.

Pre-screening has several benefits, as it helps employers select reliable workers who value their health and safety and the well-being of their co-workers and customers.

Pre-employment drug testing is becoming increasingly common across Australia, with employers wanting to establish a safe and productive work environment.

Drug screening typically analyse substances like alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine, and opiates.

Employers need to ensure the health and safety of their employees, which is why pre-employment drug testing has become such a focus for many businesses. This helps ensure the workplace remains compliant and productive.

There are four primary methods for conducting pre-screening tests:

• Urine drug test — Used to identify any potential drug use or intoxication in candidates that could hinder their job performance and/or the safety of workplace personnel.
• Oral fluid drug test (Saliva test) — Another feasible alternative because it is less intrusive than other techniques while still providing reliable drug analysis.
• Hair follicle drug test — They provide a longer timeline of drug use on the part of an individual, which can be important when considering jobs that require frequent monitoring of such behaviours.
• Alcohol breath test — Breathalyser testing provides quick and accurate results for assessing alcohol presence without the need for invasive procedures.

These drug testing methods offer employers insight into the character and tendencies of prospective employees and an added layer of security. Failing a pre-employment test may result in the withdrawal of a job offer, as it indicates potential safety risks or non-compliance with workplace policies.

At Safework Health, we offer experienced and accredited solutions for all your workplace drug and alcohol testing needs. We are accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) with locations in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Port Hedland, Darwin, and Adelaide.

Our innovative holistic approach provides comprehensive solutions, including testing and results analysis, policy development, educational workshops, certified training programs and on-site and/or in-house drug screening. We help our clients gain a more efficient and safer workplace for everyone.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your pre-screening needs.

I commenced my career undertaking research and development in the field of gas and water purification in the power industry, supported by testing conducted in the analytical laboratory. This allowed for exposure to ISO standards for quality management systems and technical competence.

After nearly a decade in the research field, I joined the national accreditation body in South Africa, where I gained knowledge in the application of ISO standards to chemical, veterinary, forensic and human pathology testing, as well as international regulations for pre-clinical studies and the conduct of clinical trials involving human participants.

After a period working at the Australian national accreditation body, I ventured back into private industry in the capacity of Quality and Risk Manager at large private pathology companies.

In a nutshell, the role ensures regulatory compliance with international accreditation and industry best-practice standards for the testing conducted in our facilities and laboratories, working in close conjunction with senior management, clinical, scientific personnel and collection personnel.

The function of my role varies daily and includes representing the company at external audits, internal audits on our workflow processes and testing procedures, continually reviewing processes for improvement opportunities, staying abreast of changes in accreditation and industry standards and opportunities for professional development.

Most importantly, I enjoy the people I get to interact with; some are starting out in their careers, while many others are recognised as industry leaders in their fields or speciality.

The importance of the requirement for testing to support industry safety standards and workplace safety, as well as the ever-changing landscape as new classes of illegal substances emerge.

My interests are varied, but could briefly be summarised as sunshine and outdoors, the ocean or countryside, dogs, walking, cycling, reading, music, and watching documentaries with a special interest in current world affairs and history.

Spend some time on the bench as a scientist or analyst, and never miss an opportunity to expand your skills and knowledge prior to moving into a quality management role.  A Quality Manager requires strong interpersonal skills, analytical and problem-solving ability, persistence and creativity, the ability to influence others, a strategic approach to work and a strong ability to facilitate change.

Learn more about our Team and our NATA Accredited Laboratories and Accredited Collection and Drug Testing services.