How Are Employees Selected for Random Drug Testing?

Interested in how employees are selected for random testing? Learn the details from the DOT publication Best Practices for Random Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Each person in a random testing pool must have an equal chance of being selected and tested during every selection period.

Use a scientifically valid method to select employees for testing. Acceptable methods include a random-number table or a computer-based random number generator. The generator must be traceable to a specific employee or, in the case of the FRA, to a group.

At InOut Labs, we use an industry-specific software package that meets all DOT requirements. This system allows us to select alternates, send notifications to employers, and “check them off the list” when they complete their tests.

Note: In the railroad industry, companies often select employees by train number instead of by individual name. Any covered employee working on that train on a specific day—whether in their regular role or not—must undergo testing. Only the FRA permits this selection method.

Warning: Avoid unacceptable random selection practices. Do not select numbers from a hat, roll dice, throw darts, pick cards, or use ping pong balls.