How does a drug test work in the workplace?
Step by step from notification of sample collection to a digital result in the portal. What the employee can expect, how long it takes and why each step looks the way it does.
For employers and employees who have never been through a drug test before, the most common question is: how does it actually work? Here is the process in detail — from the first notification to the result.
Step 1: Notification and consent
For random checks, the employee is notified on the same day, often within an hour before sample collection. For suspicion-based testing, notification is given directly at the documented observation. For new hires, the test is set out in the job advertisement and the employment contract.
At the time of the test itself, informed consent is given in writing. The employee receives information about the sample type, the panel and what the result may be used for.
Step 2: Identification
The person to be tested identifies themselves with photo ID. Their identity is documented on the sample collection form. This is more important than it sounds — if the identity can be questioned, the entire chain of custody falls.
Step 3: Sample collection
Depending on the sample type:
- Saliva sample: a swab is held in the mouth for 1–2 minutes. Carried out on site without a dedicated room.
- Urine sample: the participant goes to a toilet (with certain preparations to prevent tampering, e.g. blue flushing liquid). The sample is sealed immediately under supervision.
- Blood sample: standard medical sample collection, either at a sample collection unit or with a mobile team.
- Hair test: approximately 3 cm of hair is cut as close to the scalp as possible.
Step 4: Sealing in the participant's presence
The sample is sealed immediately after collection, in the participant's presence. The participant signs the seal. This is the heart of the chain: the sample can be proven to be untouched from this moment until it reaches the lab.
Step 5: Rapid test (if applicable)
For saliva and urine samples, a rapid test is often run directly on site. Results in 1–10 minutes. Negative rapid tests are reported as negative immediately. Positive rapid tests go on to confirmation analysis.
Step 6: Transport to the lab
Sealed samples are sent to an accredited lab using traceable transport. The recipient at the lab checks that the seal is intact and documents receipt.
Step 7: Lab analysis
Initial screening is run first. Negative results are reported immediately. Positive results go on to confirmation analysis with GC-MS or LC-MS-MS — mass spectrometry that identifies the substance specifically and quantitatively. It is this analysis that holds up legally.
Step 8: MRO review
Before a positive result is reported to the employer, it goes to an MRO physician. The MRO calls the tested person and asks about legitimate medical explanations — prescriptions, ADHD medication, codeine, etc. Confirmed medical explanations lead to "negative".
Step 9: Reporting
The final result is delivered digitally to the authorised recipient at the employer via Provsvaret's encrypted portal. Not by email, not by phone — via a portal with access control.
How long does it take?
- Sample collection: 5–15 minutes
- Rapid test result: immediately on site
- Lab-verified result: 1–2 working days for urine/saliva, 5–10 days for hair tests
- MRO review: 1–3 days for positive results
What happens in the event of a positive result?
A structured action plan with a rehabilitation assessment and follow-up tests. A detailed review is available in our guide on how employers handle a positive drug test.
Do you need a set-up?
Provsvaret delivers the entire chain from policy to sample collection to MRO review. Book 30 min and we will go through your specific needs, or read more about our analyses for workplace testing.
Want to know more?
Contact us for personalized advice on drug testing and how we can help your organization.
