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Answering Your Questions About Paternity Testing

Did you know that DNA testing is the most widely accepted method for determining someone’s identity in both scientific and legal communities? This type of testing is also referred to as paternity testing because it is designed to establish fatherhood. If you have questions about paternity testing, keep reading to find the answers:

Can a paternity test be administered before birth?
It is possible to establish fatherhood even before a baby is born, thanks to prenatal paternity testing. This method of testing is safe for both the mother and the baby, allowing fatherhood to be determined while the baby is still growing.

Can a paternity test be administered when the father is unavailable?
If the man who is believed to be the father is missing, deceased, or otherwise unavailable, then there are other testing options that can help determine fatherhood. These testing options include sibling tests, grandparent tests, and family reconstructions.

Who can be helped by paternity testing?
This type of testing is most commonly used to assist parents who want to establish fatherhood for custody, visitation, citizenship or child support reasons, but it can also help other types of people. Adoptees who want to learn about their biological parents can get started with DNA testing. Twins can also turn to this type of testing if they want to determine whether they are identical or fraternal.

Why should I choose AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services for paternity testing?
We work with an Accredited DNA laboratory through the American Association of Blood Banks to make sure our lab is up to standards to provide totally accuracy. Our testing process is completely professional and confidential, and you can expect to get your results in 1 to 2 business days.

AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services can answer any other questions you might have about the paternity testing process. Call us at (800) 224-8532 for more information about our DNA and paternity testing services. AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services is a national provider of drug & alcohol testing and employee background check services with offices in Tucson, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.

How Drug Testing May Become Part of a Divorce Hearing

In some cases, divorce is a simple process. More often, however, there are complicating factors that can make it difficult to settle a separation amicably, especially when child custody and potential spousal support payments are on the line. It may be necessary to call in outside help when working through divorce proceedings, and this can include drug testing. This article will offer a look at situations where certified drug screening results may need to be presented to a judge or mediator who will rule on the divorce settlement.

A parent seeking custody has a history of drug use.

When determining which parent will be awarded custody of children in a divorce, the court will consider which household will be the safest, most nurturing environment for a child. If a parent has a history of drug use, it may be necessary to prove that the parent is clean and sober with a certified drug test. A drug test may also be requested by a parent seeking custody if he or she has reason to believe that the other parent is using drugs.

Drug use is cited as a reason for separation.

Drug use can be the cause for a divorce, which would put fault on the individual struggling with substance abuse. In this case, it may be necessary to prove drug use with a drug test, which may assist in building a case for spousal support for one party or eliminating the responsibility of support in other cases.

When you need a certified drug test result to submit to the court, AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services can provide quick, accurate, and confidential testing with our family and personal testing services. To learn more about our Arizona drug and alcohol screening services, give us a call at (800) 224-8532.

Alcohol Recovery Programs to Explore for Your Workplace

Alcohol is a dangerous addition to any workplace, which is why many employers will implement drug and alcohol screening programs to ensure that employees are sober and ready to work. Unfortunately, alcohol is an addictive substance, and an employee who has developed a dependency to alcohol may not be able to control their drinking habits, causing an interference in the work environment. To curb alcohol use among your employees and promote a positive, healthy culture, you should consider including alcohol recovery programs in your drug free workplace program. Here’s a closer look at the types of programs you might consider:

Alcohol Education
It is said that prevention is the best cure, and this philosophy can extend to drug and alcohol addiction. By providing comprehensive alcohol education to employees, you can make everyone on staff aware of the dangers of drinking on the job and provide a look at the resources available for those struggling with alcohol addiction.

Employee Wellness
You can extend prevention a step further with a comprehensive wellness program that not only promotes avoiding drugs and alcohol, but that also encourages a sensible diet, healthy physical activity, and stress management. These types of programs can not only reduce instances of intoxication in the workplace, but they can also boost employee morale and reduce claims against company provided health insurance.

Peer-Assistance Programs
In some professions, peer assistance programs have been successful, particularly when peer intervention occurs at the early signs of alcohol abuse. Within these programs, individuals may find help from those whom they work with, often beginning with an intervention organized by a psychiatric professional.

If you are exploring drug free workplace programs for your business, look no further than AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services. We are headquartered in Tucson, but we provide nationwide services, including DOT compliant drug screening. To learn more, give us a call today at (800) 224-8532.

PHMSA Increases Random Drug Testing Rate for 2018

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced on December 1, 2017 a Notice of Calendar Year 2018 Minimum Annual Percentage Rate for Random Drug Testing.  Effective January 1, 2018 operators of gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines and operators of liquefied natural gas facilities are required to increase the minimum annual random drug testing rate from 25% to 50% in accordance to the rules set in 49 CFR 199.105(c)(1) relating to the PHMSA minimum annual random drug testing rate.

While the minimum annual random drug testing rate was 25 percent of all covered employees for calendar year 2017, paragraph 49 CFR 199.105(c)(4) requires the Administrator to raise the minimum annual random drug testing rate from 25 percent to 50 percent of all covered employees when the data obtained from the Management Information System (MIS) reports required by § 199.119(a) indicate the positive test rate is equal to or greater than 1 percent.  In calendar year 2016, the random drug test positive rate was greater than 1 percent.  Therefore, the PHMSA minimum annual random drug testing rate shall be 50 percent of all covered employees for calendar year 2018.

A Closer Look at PHMSA Screening Compliance

PHMSA stands for Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and if you want to work for this DOT agency, you need to meet certain qualifications. Business owners should know who is required to submit to a test, how to meet requirements, and what to do to set up a viable program. Here’s a closer look at PHMSA screening compliance.

Who Needs to Test

PHMSA screening compliance doesn’t apply to everyone, but in certain fields it may apply to most people on the job. You need to be screened to ensure that you meet the PHMSA’s standards if you operate, maintain, or provide emergency response functions for a pipeline or liquefied natural gas facility. This includes all persons employed by operators, contractors, and persons employed by the contractors..

Meeting Requirements

To keep your business PHMSA compliant, you need to drug test your employees in different situations. Pre-employment testing helps you build a qualified team, but you must also test employees randomly and after accidents. You also need to document and organize your results.

Creating a Program

You need to put a practical plan in place that meets the requirements if you want to be fully compliant with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. It’s understandable if you don’t know how to do this on your own, as you’ve got plenty of other responsibilities to take care of. If you’re not sure where to start, contact a drug testing and compliance company for help. The professionals will help create a plan based on your needs and the regulations, so you can encourage your employees to stay healthy and keep your operation moving in the right direction.

When you need a PHMSA compliant drug and alcohol testing program contact AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services by calling (800) 224-8532. AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services is a national provider of drug & alcohol testing and employee background check services with offices in Tucson, Arizona and Phoenix, Arizona. Visit our website for an even more detailed look at PHMSA employee screening compliance.

How Different Drugs Can Affect Employee Performance

Drug use of any kind can be detrimental to your team’s performance and your workplace , but  it’s not always obvious at first. Drugs can cause your employees to act erratically and create problems for everyone else on the team, which is bad for the individual, the team, and the business itself. Read ahead to learn about how different drugs can affect employee performance.

Marijuana

The legalization of marijuana in many states around the country has put some employers in a tricky spot. Even if the drug isn’t illegal in your state, you still shouldn’t have employees showing up to work while experiencing its effects. In States that recreational and medical marijuana are allowed employers still have rights to restrict its use among their employees.  Although many people consider the plant less harmful than other drugs, studies have shown that the impairing effects of marijuana last longer than other drugs.  It has real effects on both physical and mental traits. It can impair your visual tracking, slow your reaction time and thinking, reduce your concentration, inhibit your motivation and make you less productive on the job, which puts colleagues and management at a disadvantage themselves.

Amphetamines

The truck driving industry used to be associated with amphetamines, because these kinds of drugs help you focus and stay up for long hours. Unfortunately, there are also dangerous drawbacks. Amphetamines are addictive and can also have negative effects on your attention, especially if the drug is wearing off.  The euphoric stimulation caused by amphetamine use increases impulsive and risk taking behaviors including bizarre and violent acts.

Alcohol

We know that alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery. The job doesn’t need to require either of these tasks for it to be a bad idea to work under the influence. Alcohol delays your reaction time, changes your mood, and even affects your judgement in a significant way. Employees with alcohol problems might become easily distracted, offend their coworkers, or fail to show up to work at all.

AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services is a national provider of drug & alcohol testing and employee background check services with offices in Tucson, AZ and Phoenix, AZ. If you need drug testing in Arizona, please call us at (800) 224-8532 or browse our website.