Workplace drug and alcohol testing plays a crucial role in ensuring safety, compliance, and productivity.
In Australia, AS 4308 sets the national benchmark for urine drug testing, establishing guidelines for specimen collection, detection, and laboratory procedures.
Meanwhile, AS 3547, the Australian standard for breath alcohol testing devices, ensures breathalysers meet strict accuracy and reliability criteria.
These standards ensure that drug and alcohol testing is accurate, reliable, and legally defensible across various industries, including transport, construction, and healthcare.
We’ll break down what AS 4308 covers, why it matters, and how it impacts workplaces and testing facilities.
What is AS 4308?
Australian Standard AS 4308 outlines the procedures for specimen collection and the detection of drugs of abuse in urine samples. It applies to workplace testing, medico-legal cases, and court-directed drug testing programs.
The primary goal is to ensure consistency and integrity in drug testing across different sectors.
Under AS 4308, laboratories and collection agencies must follow strict protocols to maintain the chain of custody, prevent sample tampering, and ensure accurate reporting.
Drugs covered under AS 4308
AS 4308 mandates screening for the following five main drug classes along with their respective cut off levels:
| Drug Class | Initial Screening Cut-off (µg/L) | Confirmatory Cut-off (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|
| Amphetamine-type substances | 300 | 150 |
| Benzodiazepines | 200 | 100 |
| Cannabis metabolites (THC) | 50 | 15 |
| Cocaine metabolites | 150 | 100 |
| Opiates | 300 | 150 |
LEARN MORE: How does a urine drug test kit work?
Key components of AS 4308
1. Specimen collection procedures
- Urine samples must be collected under strict conditions to prevent adulteration.
- A chain of custody form must accompany the sample to track handling and testing.
- Employers and collection facilities must store samples securely to maintain integrity.
2. Testing Requirements
- Initial screening: Conducted using immunoassay techniques, in this case, urine testing, to detect drugs at set cut-off levels.
- Confirmatory testing: Performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to verify positive results.
- Strict quality controls: Ensuring test accuracy through reliable equipment and trained personnel.
Recent updates: AS/NZS 4308:2023
The latest revision of AS/NZS 4308 introduces several key modifications aimed at improving the accuracy and reliability of workplace drug testing.
These updates primarily focus on lowering detection thresholds and refining confirmatory testing protocols to ensure more precise results.
Major modifications for workplace drug testing (urine):
- Cocaine metabolite detection: The screening threshold for cocaine metabolites has been reduced from 300 ug/L to 150 ug/L, with the confirmatory threshold dropping from 150 ug/L to 100 ug/L. This adjustment is expected to increase on-site detections and improve the consistency between screening and confirmatory test results.
- Benzodiazepine confirmation threshold: The confirmatory threshold for Nordiazepam, Oxazepam, and Temazepam has been lowered to 100 ug/L. Diazepam has been removed from the confirmation testing list, as it metabolises into these substances after consumption. While urine drug screening will continue to detect general Benzodiazepines, confirmation testing will specify individual metabolites.
- Expanded reporting of low-level metabolites: Laboratories can now document drug metabolites detected below the threshold (between the limit of quantitation and the cut-off) if another drug/metabolite exceeds the required threshold. For example, if Amphetamine is detected alongside low-level Methamphetamine, the Methamphetamine result will be reported to provide more context to the findings.
Why AS 4308 Matters for Employers
Employers conducting workplace drug testing must ensure compliance with AS 4308 to maintain legal defensibility and workplace safety. Using non-compliant testing methods could lead to disputes, legal challenges, or unreliable results.
Best practices for employers include:
- Ensuring all workplace drug testing is conducted following AS 4308-compliant procedures and equipment.
- Partnering with certified drug testing providers such as Andatech that meet Australian standards.
- Implementing clear workplace drug and alcohol testing policies in line with legal requirements.
- Training staff on sample collection procedures and handling.
- Using urine drug testing kits that are compliant and/or verified to AS 4308.
AS 4308 sets the gold standard for urine drug testing in Australia, ensuring consistency, reliability, and fairness in testing procedures.
Compliance with this standard is essential for workplaces, testing laboratories, and legal applications. As updates continue to be implemented, businesses should review their drug and alcohol policies and ensure alignment with the latest AS/NZS 4308:2023 requirements.
For organisations needing accurate and compliant drug testing solutions, using certified drug test kits is crucial in maintaining safety and regulatory compliance.
📌 Ensure compliance with AS 4308 by using Andatech’s Australian Standards-compliant drug test kits for accurate and reliable workplace testing.
