New Website! Online Store! Come visit us at Drug Test Australia

Come see our newly updated website at www.drugtestaustralia.com.au

Our new online store has new products available in Saliva Drug Testing and Urine Drug Testing and a range of Breathalysers, as well we have our AS 4760 compliant device ToxSure II.

We offer nationally accredited Training Packages for delivery onsite or in our office.

Because health and safety is important to us, we source only the highest quality testing equipment from the US and deliver unsurpassed service and procedures in accordance with AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008, AS ISO 15189:2009. Equipment detection cut-off levels (the ng/ml level of substance in the system) are compliant to AS/NZS4308:2008 and AS4760-2006 and non-negative specimens are assessed only at NATA approved laboratories.

  

                                                      

We provide information of Drugs and detection periods and Drug types, testing methods and drug testing standards

Drug Test Australia is committed to helping create safer workplaces and reducing the risks associated with alcohol and drugs of abuse.

We are a part of Hunter Healthcare Group, a corporate healthcare organisation with services spanning corporate immunisation, public and private hospitals, aged care nursing services and onsite occupational health.

Visit our website for more information, or to make a product enquiry.

If you have an enquiry you can contact us at sales@drugtestaustralia.com.au or call us on 1300 660 636

Alcohol self-assessment - Are you drinking too much?

If you're not really sure about the amount you are drinking take this short test.

It'll help you to assess the effects of your drinking and if it suggests you're drinking too much you'll get advice on how to cut down or seek further help.

QUESTIONS

1.How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Once a month or less (1 points)

c) 2 to 4 times a month (2 points)

d) 2 to 3 times a week (3 points)

e) 4 or more times a week (4 points)

2.How many units of alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

1-2 (0 points)

3-4 (1 point)

 5-6 (2 points)

7-9 (3 points)

10 + (4 points)

What is a unit?

You can't just count each drink as a unit of alcohol. The number of units depends on the different strength and size of each drink, so it can vary a lot.

Here's some examples:

• Pint of beer, 4%, is 2.3 units
• 500ml can of strong lager, 6%, 3 units
• 250ml glass of wine, 11%, 2.8 units
• 330ml can of cider, 5%, 1.7 units
• Single (25ml) measure of spirits (e.g. vodka or gin), 1 unit

3.How often do you have six or more units on one occasion?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 points)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

What’s binge drinking?

Binge drinking usually refers to drinking lots of alcohol in a short space of time or drinking to get drunk. 

There is no consistently agreed measure of binge drinking but drinking more than eight units on any day for men, and more than six units for women, is the measure normally used.

The vital thing is to avoid drinking heavily in one session or drinking to intoxication.

Binge drinking is a major factor in accidents, violence and anti-social behaviour.

4. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of your drinking?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 points)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

5.How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 points)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

6. How often during the last year have you needed an alcoholic drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

7.How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 points)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

8.How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Occasionally (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily (4 points)

9.Have you or somebody else been injured as a result of your drinking?

a) No, this has never happened (0 points)

b) Yes, but not in the past year (2 points)

c) Yes, during the past year (4 points)

10.Has a relative, friend, doctor or health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

a) No, never (0 points)

b) Yes, but not in the past year (2 points)

c) Yes, during the past year (4 points)

RESULTS

0-8 points

Based on your answers today you're drinking in a way that is sociable and is unlikely to harm your health.

As long as your drinking does remain within recommended levels, there is only a low risk that the way you drink will contribute to future health problems.

The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day.

Remember, there can be risks from one-off episodes of heavy drinking too.

8-20 points

Based on your answers today your drinking does appear to be putting you at increased risk of developing health problems, so you might want to think about cutting down.

The following can help you cut down:

• Work out a daily limit and stick to it.
• Do more activities that don't involve drinking.
• Eat before and while you're drinking.
• Don't let anyone top up your drinks.
• Tell your friends you're cutting down.
• Count your units.

The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day.

20-100 points

Based on your answers today your drinking is already causing you problems.

The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day.

For more information please visit our website Drug Test Australia.com.au call us on our hotline 1300 660 636 or send an email enquiry

Posted by Drug Test Australia Original at http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Documents/Alcohol%20self%20assessment.htm

More airline staff fail drug, alcohol tests

Posted by Drug Test Australia

 By Chris Zappone October 30, 2012 - 10:26AM -  Sydney Morning Herald

Less than three months after a Qantas pilot was stood down from a flight on suspicion of alcohol use, data from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority shows more than 100 airline employees have tested positive for drugs and alcohol over a 17-month period.

Random drug and alcohol tests of airline staff - including pilots, ground crews, air traffic controllers and other ‘‘safety sensitive’’ workers - showed 80 positives for drug use out of 19,402 tests, as well as another 24 positives for alcohol use out of 27,459 tests, data from the CASA has shown.

The drug and alcohol tests, conducted from September 2010 to February 2012, were used for pre-employment testing, upon suspicion of a staff member or for employees returning from rehabilitation for substance abuse. From 2008 and March 2012, random drug and alcohol sampling by the airlines themselves revealed 27 positives out of 51,645 tests for both substances.

The drug and alcohol use figures come after the pilot of a Qantas plane bound for Brisbane from Sydney was stood down minutes before take-off in August on suspicion of alcohol use. The government has implemented a drug and alcohol management regulatory regime since 2008, with random testing occurring since then.

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson noted that 0.41 per cent of totals had tested positive for drug use and only 0.087 per cent had test positive for alcohol. The airlines’ testing revealed a positive rate of 0.052 per cent.

‘‘The rate of positives for both the testing by aviation organisations and the random testing, is very, very low,’’ he said. ‘‘[But] naturally we'd like to see no positives at all.

‘‘To strive to achieve that, there are comprehensive education and training programs for all aviation employees to warn them about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, while at work.’’

In the test, the blood alcohol concentration limit was a 0.02 per cent. Drug limits were ‘‘in accordance with the Australian standard for oral fluid testing,’’ CASA said.

Article; http://www.smh.com.au/business/more-airline-staff-fail-drug-alcohol-tests-20121030-28gi3.html

Drugs and Alcohol; Over 100 airline employees tested positive over 17 months

More than 100 airline employees have tested positive to drugs or alcohol over 17 months

Posted by Drug Test Australia, Oct 30th, 2012

Original; Mark Dunn 

From:Herald Sun 

October 29, 2012 11:00PM

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/more-than-100-airline-employees-have-tested-positive-to-drugs-or-alcohol-over-17-months/story-e6freon6-1226505683021

MORE than 100 airline industry employees have tested positive to drugs or alcohol in internal tests over a 17-month period, data from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has revealed. 

The tests, which included 80 positive drug detections and 24 alcohol breaches, are those taken by air and cabin crew, maintenance personnel, air traffic control staff, ground and baggage workers, refuellers and security screening employees who have a direct effect on air safety.

The results of internal tests, administered by commercial airlines and private aviation firms, have previously not been made public but were released by CASA for transparency reasons on the basis they did not identify individual operators or personnel.

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said despite the positive results, they reflected breaches by 0.41 per cent of the 19,402 drug tests and 0.087 per cent of the 27,459 alcohol tests.

While CASA said any positive results for people operating in "safety sensitive" aviation positions was concerning, it is believed only two breaches were recorded by pilots or flight crew with most instances relating to ground staff, baggage handlers or cabin crew.

In a two-tier testing system introduced in 2008, random testing by CASA turned up a further 45 positive drug or alcohol results from 51,000 tests, of which 18 were subsequently overturned following medical reviews that identify prescription medication breaches.

The second tier of testing sees industry operators undertaking internal testing of SSAA (safety sensitive aviation activity) personnel for alcohol and drugs including amphetamines, cannabis, heroin, LSD, Ecstasy, cocaine, sleeping pills and PCP (Phencyclidine).

The legal alcohol limit for airline staff is 0.02 per cent.

A Qantas captain suspected of having consumed alcohol was stood down from the controls of a Boeing 767-300 shortly before it was due to take-off from Sydney on July 30.

It is believed cabin crew raised concerns about the pilot amid suspicions the captain had been drinking prior to the flight.

Eight cabin crew tested positive, five aircraft engineers, one refueller, a security guard, four baggage handlers and two foreign staff.

Police force passes the drug test; Victorian police

FEWER than 1 per cent of drug and alcohol tests of Victorian police have come up positive, with cannabis the most-detected drug.

Figures obtained by The Age under freedom of information laws show the force checked 1625 of its members in the five years since tests began, with 13 returning positive results.

Testing falls into four categories: targeted at police believed to be abusing drugs and alcohol; those obligatory after a ''critical incident'' such as a high-speed chase or police shooting; random and blanket testing of ''high risk'' work units; and testing on ''performance management'' grounds.

Targeted, or 'investigative'', testing has returned seven positives since 2008; three police have returned positive results in performance-based testing and three members of high-risk units - such as the drug squad and special operations group - have tested positive.

Two tested positive for both cocaine and heroin, five for cannabis, two for amphetamines, one for steroids, one for both steroids and amphetamines and two for alcohol.

''The alcohol and other drug testing policy focuses on the fitness for duty responsibilities of all Victoria Police employees,'' a police spokeswoman said. ''Employees need to be fit for duty and not affected by alcohol or other drugs. It is equally important that employees feel assured that colleagues are not affected by alcohol or other drugs. ''But it is as much a welfare-based issue as an ethical one. This is also about the community having trust in Victoria Police - and if our members are enforcing laws around illicit drug use, they also need to obey the same laws.

''The positive results confirm the drug and alcohol testing policy fully supports the ethical standards and behaviours expected of sworn members of Victoria Police.''

Police union secretary Greg Davies welcomed the low number of positive results, but said Victoria Police was using its power to test in high-risk areas - or ''specific work units'' - to unfairly take aim at certain suburban police stations.

''We're pleased, but not at all surprised, that the results of the drug testing within the police force are at the low levels they are,'' he said.

''We do, however, retain our concerns that the police force can walk into a police station and, for no apparent reason, determine that that is a specific work unit for the purposes of drug-testing everybody that works there.''

Adapted from The Age - Dan Oates

link: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-force-passes-the-drug-test-20121021-27zlm.html

UCI knew Drug Testing System Flawed

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Cycling's governing body set up a drug testing system that was designed to fail and allow Lance Armstrong and other riders to avoid detection, said the ex-boss of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Doping officials knowingly ran a testing regimen that the sport's top teams circumvented and where competitors would be tipped-off in advance, Richard Pound, who headed up the WADA between 1999 and 2007, told AFP in an interview.

Despite alleging eight years ago that cheating was rife, his complaints to the UCI (International Cycling Union) about the sport's anti-doping measures were repeatedly ignored, Pound said.

"It is not credible that they didn't know this was going on," Pound said.

"I had been complaining to UCI for years. They come in in the morning at 5.00 am and do tests then go away, and riders are not chaperoned.

"The race starts at 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm in the afternoon and there are no tests prior to race to see if they are bumped up," adding that after a day in the saddle, riders would be unchaperoned for an hour before being tested again.

"So then you go in and get saline solutions and other means of hiding the effects (of performance-enhancing drug) EPO and whatever else it is," he said.

"You have to say 'I wonder if it was designed not to be successful?'" Pound said of the system, lambasting the UCI, which is under attack in the wake of a devastating US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report on Armstrong.

The report, which was released Wednesday, detailed Armstrong's alleged use of testosterone, human growth hormone, blood doping and EPO and included sworn statements from 26 people, including 11 former teammates.

The sports agency, which had already stripped the cyclist of his seven Tour de France titles, said Armstrong orchestrated the most complex doping scheme in sports history.

Pound, a Canadian lawyer turned sports official whose reported comments in 2004 about alleged doping earned a rebuke from Armstrong, said the buck must stop with the UCI.

"If they persist with denial then they put their whole sport in jeopardy," he said, noting that doping investigations may spread to the Spanish and Italian professional cycling communities, among others.

UCI President Pat McQuaid argued earlier this week that the sport "has moved on" and better tests mean riders are now much cleaner than in the previous era, in which Armstrong, now aged 41, competed.

"The peloton today is completely different," McQuaid said.

Pound, in reference to the USADA report, said he was dismayed by the scope and vivid details of the alleged doping practices by Armstrong and his US Postal Service teammates.

"I thought it was a very thoroughly researched report with evidence sworn or otherwise," said Pound, who remains on WADA's 38-member Foundation Board.

Armstrong has always maintained that he did not use banned substances during his career, but in August he chose not to contest the USADA's charges.

The Texan rider's days of sparing no expense to hire big-ticket lawyers to muzzle critics may also be coming to an end, Pound suggested.

"I don't think it is credible for Armstrong to say 'all 26 of these people are liars and cheats and axe grinders,'" the former WADA president said in reference to the sworn statements in the USADA dossier.

"I am afraid his time has just run out on that."

"What is going to be a surprise is (if) after all this, Lance persists in saying he never did it. You got to hope he will ... admit 'I was the best of the worst.'"

Pound said cancer survivor Armstrong should also speak out against the use of performance-enhancing drugs, not just for himself but his five children.

"What are his kids going to think of him? They are going to carry around this burden," said Pound, while stating that many Armstrong supporters, especially in the United States, are still likely to dismiss the allegations.

"There are a lot of people who have a big emotional investment in Armstrong," he said, alluding to the rider's comeback from cancer and the tens of millions of dollars he has raised to help people affected by the disease.

"They don't want to know that he was a cheater ... but if the pedestal he is on proves to be something he got by cheating, it isn't much of a pedestal."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/15117251/uci-knew-drug-testing-system-was-flawed/