Incoming students should initiate a drug screen ONLY upon directions from the department.

CastleBranch

The drug screens will be conducted by CastleBranch (formerly Certified Profile), a firm specializing in verifications for healthcare workers. Results from other agencies will not be recognized.

Instructions for obtaining your drug screen will be provided to you by the department.

In association with our clinical education program drug screening is required on incoming students to ensure the safety of the patients treated by students in the program. You will be required to order your drug screen in sufficient time for it to be reviewed by the school and/or hospital prior to starting your clinical rotation. A drug screen typically takes 3 days to complete, however its delivery to your school and/or clinical site can be impacted by a variety of factors.

Rationale

Health care providers are entrusted with the health, safety, and welfare of patients/clients. The safety and welfare of patients/clients cared for by our students is of primary concern in all Health Professions programs and the clinical agencies that provide essential clinical experiences for the students. The clinical agencies require a drug screen prior to the first clinical course to ensure that their facility is in compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) standards.

Implementation

Successful completion of the ten (10) panel drug screen is required within thirty days of beginning the first clinical course. Currently enrolled students are required to have a drug screen within thirty (30) days of the next clinical course.

Drug screens will be honored for the duration of the student's enrollment in the clinical program if the participating student has not had a break in the enrollment of a Health Science program. A break in enrollment is defined as nonattendance of one full semester or more.

The Ten Panel Drug Screen includes testing for:

Test Result Outcomes

Negative Drug Screen

• Student is eligible for clinical placement

Negative Dilute Drug Screen

• Requires another urine sample to be submitted
• STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE SECOND TEST
• Specimen was too diluted to determine accurate results
• Helpful Tips to Avoid a Possible Negative Dilute Result
  • If possible, provide your sample first thing in the morning.
  • Limit the consumption of large amounts of water prior to the test.
  • A good alternative to hydrating yourself would be to drink two 8 oz glasses of orange juice (no coffee, soda, etc) prior to the test.

Positive Drug Screen

A positive drug screen for marijuana metabolite is still considered a failed drug screen, regardless of whether a student is using CBD (Cannabidiol) products derived from hemp plants that contain .3% or less delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD products derived from marijuana plants are not legal in the State of Texas. If enough THC is present, it will show up as a positive result on a urine drug screen. This means that using CBD products may have the ability to cause a positive drug test.

• A positive drug screen is any instance in which a drug screening report shows a positive test for one or more of the drugs on the panel.
• Any student with a positive drug screen will be withdrawn from the program.

Failure to undergo the drug test in the time period required will result in withdrawal from the program.

Readmission

• Any student withdrawn for a positive drug screen will not be eligible to reapply or apply for readmission for a minimum of twelve months from the date of withdrawal.
• All current admission requirements will be applicable including (but not limited to) prerequisite time limits.
• Drug screening policies in place at the time of entry will apply.

Disclaimers

• Successful completion of a drug screen for a Health Sciences Program does not ensure eligibility for licensure or future employment.
• Clinical agencies can require additional drug screens to be in compliance with their policies.
• If a student is found to be ineligible for clinical placement any time during the program, the student is unable to meet clinical learning objectives and will be withdrawn pending resolution of the situation.

Allocation of Cost

Cost of the drug screen is the responsibility of the student. The cost for the Drug Screen is $27.00.

Confidentiality of Records

Drug screening reports and all records pertaining to the results are considered confidential information with restricted access. The results and records are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations.