Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Drug Analyst Tagging Requirements

When I applied for a drug analyst position in an LTO-accredited, freestanding-based, drug testing facility in Mandaue City, I was asked to submit a couple of requirements for tagging.

A drug analyst must be tagged by the Deparment of Health to have an IDTOMIS account. The IDTOMIS (Integrated Drug Testing Operations Management Information System) is a software where you verify the client/donor’s information, take a photo and fingerprint then finally release the drug test result. You only have 1 account registered for 1 facility.

Here are the primary requirements:

1.       Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) license photocopy

2.       DOH-issued training certificate - Seminar/Workshop on the Manual of Operations for Screening Drug Testing Laboratories

3.       Email Address

4.       Resignation letter from precious employer (I used to work as a drug analyst in an institution-based facility. This is useful so that you’ll be untagged from the previous facility.)

5.       Drug Test Result – I had my drug testing in another drug-testing lab to avoid bias.

6.       Medical Certificate – they required a Government-issued med cert so I went to Cebu City Health Office to ask for the medical certificate.  I brought my CBC, Urinalysis, Fecalysis and X-ray result.

7.       2x2 ID picture – for employee profiling

On the employer’s end, they will submit a letter to be addressed to Department of Health together with the credentials asking for the tagging of the drug analyst. The approval may take as early as one week. Once approved, the drug analyst must submit to the Deparment of Health Regional Office- IT Deparment for confirmation and fingerprint scanning. You’ll be given your USERNAME and PASSWORD so make sure you take these correctly.

The tagging is as simple as that. Welcome to the world of drug testing!


Monday, January 6, 2020

Drug Testing 101: Observe Specimen Collection for Urine

Drug Testing 101: Observe Specimen Collection for Urine


Before we proceed to the steps, it is essential for the Authorized Specimen Collector to be oriented on the procedures to ensure proper specimen collection. He/She must be vigilant to minimize the risk of tampering the urine specimen.

1.       Prepare and secure collection site and supplies

a.       Make sure the waterless urinal is clean. 

2.       Verify donor identification

3.       Explain the basic collection procedure

a.       Instruct the donor to remove all unnecessary outer garments and put it in a secure tray or locker in the collection site. Perform bodily search.

4.       Verify donor’s ID

5.       Label the specimen bottle legibly

6.       Fill up Step 1 of CCF

7.       Pay close attention to collection

a.       Observe one collection at a time

b.      Check the volume and inspect physical characteristics

c.       Fill Step 2 and initiates Step 3 of CCF

8.       Let the donor wash hands thoroughly

9.       Close and apply seal over the lid bottle in front of the donor

a.       Sign over seal indicate collection date and time

b.      Ask the donor to fill up and sign step 5 of the CCF

Reference:

Seminar/Workshop on the Manual of Operations for Screening Drug Testing Laboratories Lecture Handouts 2016