DFPS CPS Handbook §3335
Drug Test Results

CPS January 2024 After a caseworker obtains drug test results, the caseworker documents the result information in IMPACT in a contact narrative. The possible drug test results are below. Negative Result A negative drug test result means the drug test detected no substance. Note: Each drug test can only detect the substance or substances that it is designed to detect. When the result of a person’s drug test is negative, the caseworker does the following: - Notifies the person about the result in a timely manner. - Encourages the person’s continued abstinence from the substance. - Provides positive feedback to the person. Positive Result A positive drug test result confirms that use of or exposure to a detectable substance has occurred within the time frame that the test can detect. A medical review officer (MRO) verifies all non-negative results. The caseworker assesses a positive result in relation to the child’s safety and risk. The caseworker discusses the result with the person in a timely manner. If a parent or caregiver with a positive result is actively parenting a child, the first priority is to ensure the child’s immediate safety. Next, the caseworker refers the parent or caregiver to one of the following: - The regional outreach, screening, assessment, and referral (OSAR) center. - A facility that offers substance use disorder treatment. If the parent or caregiver is already engaged in substance use disorder treatment, the caseworker informs the primary counselor of the positive drug test result to help the facility tailor its treatment services to individual needs. See: 3362 Safety and Risk When Substances Are Present 3372 Direct Referral to Treatment Provider Positive Result with a Valid Prescription If a person has a positive drug test result and says it is because of a prescription medication, the caseworker determines whether the positive result is from the reported prescription medication. The caseworker determines this by doing the following: - Directly observing the prescription medication. - Obtaining consent to contact the prescribing provider. - Reviewing medical records. If the person has a valid prescription and is using it as prescribed by a licensed health care professional, the caseworker documents it in IMPACT as a “Positive Result with a Valid Prescription”. If the caseworker is concerned that the parent or caregiver is misusing prescription medication, the caseworker verifies the following: - The instructions on the container match the person’s description of how the prescription medication is being used. - The prescription medication is current. - The patient’s name on the prescription label matches the parent or caregiver’s name. The caseworker documents any prescribed medication in IMPACT. The caseworker shares the information about the parent or caregiver’s prescription medication with the lab’s medical review officer (MRO). The MRO assesses whether the medication would have caused the positive test result. See 3340 Prescription Medication . Presumptive Positive Result A presumptive positive drug test result on a drug screen means the person’s sample (saliva or urine) contains substances that have met the screening threshold for an oral fluid screen device (such as iScreen), oral fluid test (such as a cheek swab), or external entity urinalysis. Any presumptive positive oral swab requires confirmation with a lab-verified test. After a lab test confirms a presumptive positive result, it is called a “verified positive result.” Invalid Result An invalid drug test result means the lab did not complete the drug test. When the lab indicates that a sample is invalid, the caseworker takes one or more of the following actions to make a conclusion about the person’s substance use: - Contacts the MRO’s office to find out the reason for the invalid result. - Has the person retested. - Requests a different type of testing, such as a hair strand test instead of a urinalysis test. - Relies on credible evidence from observation or from collaterals. Rejected Result A rejected drug test result means the sample did not meet the initial criteria for testing for one or more reasons, such as the following: - The urine’s temperature was not body temperature. - There is not enough urine to test. - The sample is not urine or has been mixed with some other liquid. When the lab rejects a sample, the caseworker takes one the following actions to make a conclusion about the person’s substance use: - Has the person retested. - Requests a different type of testing, such as a hair strand test instead of a urinalysis test. - Relies on credible evidence from observation or from collaterals. Diluted Result A diluted drug test result means the person did one or both of the following: - Consumed a large amount of fluids. - Took a diuretic. When the lab indicates that a sample is diluted, the caseworker takes one or more of the following actions to make a conclusion about the person’s substance use: - Has the person retested. - Requests a different type of testing, such as a hair strand test instead of a urinalysis test. - Relies on credible evidence from observation or from collaterals.