Concentra

This story will seem like it's all about me. But bear with me; it's implications are far-reaching and it's creeping tendrils a possible extreme danger to society.

On September 11, 2019 I was in an accident at work, in a work vehicle. A tour bus hit my driver's side mirror. As per company policy, whether an employee is at fault or not, said employee must be drug tested. I was not concerned at all; I had no thoughts that this would be my last day at work. I was working in, and totally loyal to, a career in the automotive tech industry which I truly, truly loved.

I was driven to Concentra, on Polaris Avenue, by a shift lead. I provided a urine sample and was then seen by a doctor.

Fast forward a few days and I'm still not cleared to return to work. An email was sent to me from HR, essentially stating I could not return to work until they received my post accident drug test results. I thought this was strange because Concentra receives the results within approximately 20 minutes of the specimen being provided.

I started doing some digging. As it turned out, Concentra had sent my urine sample to EScreen in Kansas for 'confirmation testing'. At that point I knew I had tested positive for something. But how? And for what? I do not use drugs. Concentra tested me using a standard 5 panel drug test, which tests for: THC, PCP, opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine, none of which I use.

A few more days went by, and I was finally able to speak with a doctor at EScreen in Kansas, who proceeded to tell me that I tested positive for THC. Not only that, but he said I tested at 40ng/ml, on par with a regular/daily smoker. I was stunned and angry. I told him that wasn't my specimen, or it had been mislabeled. He said 'We don't make mistakes.' I was subsequently terminated the next day.

I KNOW what I put in my body and I KNEW the test was inaccurate. It had to have been inaccurate at the start, at Concentra. I didn't understand. I went to my personal doctor and requested a urinalysis for THC. She sent me to LabCorp on September 20, 2019. I provided a specimen with a witness present. The results were negative, just as I knew they would be.

Now, if someone is a regular/daily smoker, as I was purported to be, THC is going to remain in the body for 30 to 90 days, depending upon the individual's metabolism and other biological factors. How did I test negative for THC just 8 days later? Well, because I was negative from the start. I propose Concentra either made a grave mistake, or they purposely and maliciously switched or mislabeled my specimen.

What are the broader implications for others, regarding my personal story? Consider the buffet of humanity that is sent to Concentra for drug testing: everyone from limo drivers and pilots, to policemen, firemen, paramedics, and all manner of public servants with whom we entrust our LIVES. Are they losing their jobs due to Concentra's negligence? Or even WORSE, are they keeping their jobs when they should be terminated? Can the collectors at Concentra be bribed or otherwise coerced into 'accidentally' switching samples in order to save someone's job? I don't know about you, but the thought both scares and angers me. The consequences are truly frightening and perhaps endangering our very lives.