Drugs & Alcohol abuse is not about statistics – it is about lives getting ruined or lost!

Alcohol & Drug screening laws vary from state to state, however in some cases, for instance, in industries regulated by the US Department of Transportation, drug and alcohol screening is mandatory by law.

Types of Drugs & Alcohol Tests

• Urine drug tests
• Blood drug tests
• Hair drug tests
• Breath alcohol tests
• Saliva drug screens
• Sweat drug screens

Many companies screen prospective job candidates for alcohol & drug abuse, as part of the employment hiring process.

From an insurance view point or perspective, drug or alcohol abusers are considered "high –risk", and getting life insurance coverage will be difficult.

Test Results from drugs and alcohol screening labs need to be accurate and reliable.  False-positive or false- negative results can be life changing. Even with modern equipment and advances in laboratory science, results may not be 100% accurate as they are susceptible to manual and systemic errors.

These days many drugs and alcohol screening labs are being taken to court by individuals and businesses.

A false or erroneous result can block a person's career advancement, lead to social stigmatization or be the reason why somebody lands up in jail!

Is your lab exposed? Are you covered by adequate drug and alcohol screening lab insurance?

To mitigate the risk of expensive claims, you need to understand what type of medical laboratory insurance coverage is suitable for your business.

• Malpractice Clinic Laboratory Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance for health care professionals is a must for every clinical laboratory.  Malpractice claims can run into millions of dollars, and if you do not have adequate coverage, you could be out of business.

An erroneous screening result, caused by swapped test samples, for instance could have disastrous consequences.  It could turn a person's life 'upside down' or cause considerable damage to a company's finances and reputation.  General Liability and Professional Liability coverage will protect your laboratory from claims arising out of this.

To better understand how this type of coverage works, see Understanding Drug and Alcohol Screening Insurance, which outlines the core protections available to labs.

• Needle-stick Injury Insurance   

As a result of substance abuse, alcohol and drug users, place them at higher risk for contracting infectious diseases such as AIDS, and expose them to blood - borne pathogens such as Hepatitis B & C. 

A needle-stick injury takes place when a hypodermic needle or any sharp object that has been in contact with blood, tissue or other body fluids of the patient, accidently pierces the skin of the lab technician.

Heath care workers and laboratory personnel can easily contract these diseases.  Needle-stick Insurance provides income protection to infected workers, in the event of income loss or income reduction during recovery.

Optional Insurance Coverages

• Business Property Insurance

This coverage protects diagnostic, laboratory and cooling equipment from theft, fire and natural disaster.

• Business Interruption Insurance

With business interruption insurance you are covered if your operations are disrupted due to weather or problems with personnel.

Many labs also consider Testing Labs Insurance to address a broader range of liability exposures, including facility risks and equipment damage.

If your operations include handling large volumes of specimens or hazardous materials, exploring Medical Laboratories Insurance may help identify additional risk management considerations.