Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We commenced operation from humble beginnings in Hobart, Tasmania in February of 2002.

Yes! All of Relevant’s experienced and accredited Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) testing Technicians are qualified as required under AS/NZS 4760:2019 and AS/NZS 4308:2008.

Yes, Relevant is proudly NATA Accredited for Medico legal drug testing per AS/NZS 4760, section 2 Collection, storage, handling and dispatch.  Our partner confirmatory laboratories are also NATA Accredited.

For more information about our NATA Accreditation, please view this page.

To view our NATA Accreditation please click on the link below.

Note: This will direct you off our website and to the NATA website.

To ensure our strict standards of quality and NATA Accreditation is maintained, all drug testing personnel are direct employees of Relevant Drug Testing Solutions.

No franchisees, agents or contractors here – you’ll always be dealing direct!

Yes, a technically correct Alcohol & Other Drug Policy and Procedure (sometimes referred to as a Fit For Work Policy) is the foundation to any successful workplace AOD testing program.

Drug testing is not only legal in Australia, it is a legal requirement for many industries to perform drug testing on their workers.

Absolutely, our expert team have reviewed and written hundreds of Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Policies and Procedures. We can complete a full review of your current documentation, or if required a completely new Policy and Procedure.

Managing over the counter (OTC) and prescribed medication is one of the most frequently overlooked components in an Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Procedure. With a few paragraphs we are able to safely manage OTC and prescribed medication in the workplace.

Regular random Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) testing is an essential deterrent to the misuse of alcohol and other drugs in the workplace.

Independent expert, Professor Macdonald Christie of the Faculty of Medicine at Sydney University, has stated during evidence at industrial relations hearings that to maintain an effective deterrent a minimum average of one to two random tests per worker, per annum is required.

Yes, we offer a computer generated random selection as a standard service to all our valued clients.

Over more than 20 years performing Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) testing at workplaces across Australia, we have seen many different methods of random selection. Our favoured method is via computer generated random employee selection as it allows for a completely auditable trail.

Some other methods we have seen is via a marble draw where if a worker selects a white marble they are not subject to testing and when they select a black marble they are subject to AOD testing.

Another method of random selection which some workplaces prefer is Random Division Selection where a group or division is randomly selected and then all personnel in that division or under that supervisor are required to present for random AOD testing.

An important thing to consider when selecting a random selection method is that you choose one that complies with your Alcohol & Other Drug Policy and Procedure, is fair and equitable to all workers and that doesn’t cost your workforce a large amount of worker downtime.

There is no magical ‘one size fits all’  Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) testing time.

Most clients request Relevant to select a random time to conduct AOD testing whilst some prefer to test at the start of a shift or during shift change.

We are happy to independently manage the entire testing process where there is no need for your managers to “book in” testing every time. In this scenario our Accredited Technicians will simply turn up randomly and conduct a set number of tests over a 12 month period.

Chain of Custody is a series of procedures to account for the integrity of the test specimen by recording and tracking its handling and storage from the point of collection, to receipt at the confirmatory laboratory, storage of the reference samples and then after a set period of time as specified in the applicable standard, secure disposal of the sample/s.

A not-negative is an onsite or screening test result that is at or above the applicable cut-off concentration and therefore does not exclude the presence of a drug or class of drugs.  Results that are not-negative require confirmatory laboratory testing of the specimen to unequivocally determine the presence or absence of a drug. 

Should confirmatory laboratory testing of a not-negative result confirm drugs present at or above the cut-off concentration it is then referred to as confirmed positive.

The abbreviation AOD stands for Alcohol and Other Drugs.

DAMP stands for Drug and Alcohol Management Program.

The abbreviation EAP stands for Employee Assistance Program.

The onsite screening cut-off levels in AS/NZS 4308:2008 are listed in Table 1 of the Standard and are as follows:

The confirmation cut-off levels in AS/NZS 4760:2019 are listed in Table 2 of the Standard and are as follows:

Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4760:2019 is available for purchase directly from SAI Global via the following link.

Note: This will direct you off our website and to the SAI Global website.

Yes, Standards Australia are currently reviewing AS/NZS 4308:2008.

Please check out our News page for any updates on the urine drug testing standard.

The onsite screening cut-off levels in AS/NZS 4308:2008 are listed in Table 1 and are as follows:

* For drugs that may be optionally tested within each class, the specified cut-off levels may not apply and other methodologies may be more appropriate.

The confirmation cut-off levels in AS/NZS 4308:2008 are listed in Table 2 and are as follows:

* These drugs may be optionally tested within each class and the specified cut-off levels shall apply.

Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4308:2008 is available for purchase directly from SAI Global via the following link.

Note: This will direct you off our website and to the SAI Global website.

Calibration varies between brand and model, however under AS 3547:2019 breathalysers must have a minimum re-calibration period of 6 months with several leading brands on the market now offering a 12 month interval between calibrations.

No, the Australian Standard sets the calibration period within the devices accuracy requirements.

We service and calibrate a wide range of breathalysers from many leading manufacturers. Please contact our team on 1300 489 489 to discuss if we can calibrate your specific brand and model.

Absolutely. Breathalysers can be sent into us for calibration at any time before the calibration due.

Yes, our expert service and calibration team can service a wide range of breathalysers onsite at your workplace. For more information, please phone our customer service team on 1300 489 489.

Australian Standard AS 3547:2019 is available for purchase directly from SAI Global via the following link.

Note: This will direct you off our website and to the SAI Global website.