Tutorials & FAQs
Everything you need to register your team, request a collection, and respond as a collector, plus answers to common post-accident drug & alcohol testing questions.
User Instructions
Outlines general user functionality.
READI Collect User Instructions PDF ยท 3.9 MB Click to view the latest user guide.Team Manager Tutorials
Team Managers can add subscribers, users covered by READI Collect who can request services such as drug collections, pay for coverage, and manage their users' coverage. Teams can also be set up to manage a group of collectors who provide services within READI Collect.
Team Member Tutorials
Learn how you, as a team member requesting services, can create, manage, monitor, and complete an incident.
Drug Collector Tutorials
Learn how you, as a collector providing services, can respond to an incident and complete your services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is READI Collect?
READI Collect is based on patented technology that connects a nationwide network of professional drug and alcohol specimen collectors to our patented mobile app. READI Collect was developed by Kevin W. McClain, a highly qualified and experienced accident investigator. To learn more, visit our About page.
What services does READI Collect provide?
READI Collect provides rapid on-site drug and alcohol testing, connecting you to a nationwide network of certified mobile specimen collectors for post-accident, reasonable-suspicion, and scheduled onsite testing.
How do I sign up and use READI Collect?
To learn more about how the platform works, view the READI Collect User Instructions above.
How do I get covered by READI Collect?
Simply sign up here to create a new company or team in READI Collect, then get the READI Collect app on all of your team members. Please also watch the tutorial videos above.
How do I join READI Collect as a collector?
If you are interested in joining READI Collect as a drug and alcohol specimen collector, register to our network and complete your registration. The "Drug Collector Set Up" tutorial above will walk you through it. If you have any questions, contact us for more information.
How do I contact READI Collect?
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here.
How do I create / request a collection?
The primary way a collection is requested is through the READI Collect app. An administrator of a company can also create one from the web portal: create the incident, assign a donor (the person/driver who had an accident or needs a reasonable-suspicion test), and a request is sent out to all local collectors. See the "Requesting a Collection" tutorial above.
How much does coverage cost?
READI Collect has an annual subscription fee. Click the Pricing link to see our current pricing.
Do I need READI Collect coverage?
READI Collect is the only effective way to get a post-accident drug (and especially alcohol) test done within the DOT-required time frame. Our comprehensive drug-testing program ensures the fastest response to a post-accident test request, giving you the best chance of meeting every criterion for a DOT-required post-accident test.
How does the patented READI Collect post-accident drug testing work?
Immediately following a vehicle or workplace accident, the driver, employee, or employer-designated representative (DER) activates the READI Collect app or web portal and requests a test.
The patented app sends out a geo-referenced service request to our nationwide network of available mobile collection specialists, who respond immediately and get to your employee's location fast, 24/7/365. This mobile aspect is especially important for DOT-regulated employers whose drivers are often alone and far from the office, as well as employers in construction, oil and gas, railroad, and other industries where employees work in remote locations.
An employee's medical care should never be delayed while supervisors spend precious time tracking down a mobile collector. READI Collect determines what test is required and routes the closest mobile collection specialist to the scene in record time.
Registered users have access to reports including minute-by-minute status, digital copies of the required forms, and notification of a final result, all in real time on the app and the web portal.
Who is required to receive DOT-regulated post-accident drug testing?
Only companies regulated by the Department of Transportation and those who work for the federal government in safety-sensitive positions are required to conduct post-accident drug testing, but many employers who don't fit these criteria still do, because it discourages drug use, encourages a safer workplace, and can reduce workers' compensation, general liability, and vehicle insurance rates.
For DOT-regulated employers, after initiating a request we dispatch a collector immediately, and in most cases they arrive within two hours, well within 49 CFR parts 40 and 382, which require a DOT alcohol test within eight hours (ideally two) and a DOT drug test within 32 hours of a workplace accident.
DOT post-accident drug tests require an expanded panel including four additional semi-synthetic opioids: hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone, along with amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana (THC), opiates, and PCP. DOT regulations currently allow a breath alcohol test or an oral-fluid (mouth swab) test for alcohol, but if the oral swab shows any alcohol an evidentiary breath alcohol test (eBAT) is required, plus urinalysis for drug testing.
Do you have any post-accident drug testing program guidelines?
Implement and enforce a written drug testing policy. All covered employees should be educated and applicable employees trained per the policy. It should state that all employees are subject to drug testing, including post-accident, and that refusal results in a presumption the test would have been positive. The policy should be signed by the employee and universally enforced.
Conduct training and education. Employees and supervisors must understand the policy, the consequences of violating it, and the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. For DOT reasonable-suspicion testing, the supervisor must have completed an approved training course and have the certificate on hand.
Conduct testing immediately following the accident. A court can deny the intoxication presumption if the test occurs too late. Testing must follow your documented policy and federal and state law.
Take written statements immediately. An employee should state in a signed statement whether they consumed alcohol within 24 hours of the accident or any non-prescribed controlled substances within 30 days. (Due to HIPAA, do not ask whether an employee consumed a prescribed controlled substance.)
Approve emergency care immediately. The injured employee is entitled to reasonable emergency medical care until stabilized or discharged.
Do not encourage the use of drugs or alcohol. Have a written policy against using alcohol, even at work-related activities.
What are the different methods used for post-accident drug testing?
Several tests can be used, although some state or federal guidelines dictate which apply. Urine is the most common specimen for illicit drugs (DOT guidelines), and breath (BAT) is the most common for alcohol (DOT guidelines).
Is oral fluid (saliva) a good choice for post-accident drug testing?
Oral fluid can detect recent drug use, but as of August 15, 2024, urine testing is the only federally approved test for DOT-covered CDL holders. For non-DOT tests, saliva testing requires only a small sample collected under direct supervision, is tamper-resistant, doesn't require the employee to leave the site, and can be done onsite by a supervisor or trained staff member.
What drugs are detected in post-accident testing?
Per SAMHSA's guidelines, testing should check for the five illicit drugs (amphetamines, THC, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine) and alcohol. Companies are not limited in the number of substances they can test for in non-DOT situations, but any such drugs must be clearly spelled out in an authorized company drug and alcohol testing policy.
How soon should employees be tested following an accident?
Alcohol tests are more time-sensitive and should be performed within two to three hours, not to exceed eight hours, due to how quickly alcohol leaves the system. Drug tests should be performed as soon as possible and up to thirty-two hours after the accident.
What if the employee cannot be tested during the standard timeframe?
If the employee cannot be tested within the standard timeframes, then the employee should not be tested. Companies should record the reason the test was not performed and keep documentation for their records. Each company policy should dictate the course of action when testing cannot be performed. This is where READI Collect is at its best, giving every carrier the best chance of meeting these strict requirements, and if not, a detailed report of the efforts made to get the test done.
What if an employee refuses to take a test?
An employee who refuses a post-accident test should be subject to disciplinary action per the company's guidelines. Refusal includes:
- Failure to provide adequate breath for testing without a valid medical explanation
- Failure to provide adequate urine for testing without a valid medical explanation
- Engaging in conduct that hinders or invalidates the testing process
- Leaving the scene of an accident
How are off-site accidents handled?
The easy answer is to have the READI Collect app on all of your drivers' phones and make sure they have watched the tutorials and had proper training on the company policy for post-accident procedures. After an accident, open the app, follow your company policy and the in-app instructions, and get connected with a professional collector in minutes. The app is only one part of any company's post-accident protocol. Always follow your company policy and use the app in accordance with it.
How does post-accident testing work?
Post-accident procedures should be outlined in a company's drug and alcohol testing / substance abuse policy. A good policy covering the federal requirements is available from Labworks USA. Most companies require all accidents to be reported to a designated representative who assesses whether testing should be conducted. With the READI Collect app you are presented with a decision tree to determine whether you need a DOT post-accident test, taking the guesswork out and saving time. If a collector is not available, safe transportation to a testing facility should be arranged per company guidelines, and a detailed report should be completed and kept per policy.
May a company conduct post-accident testing for all accidents that occur?
With the READI Collect app you are presented with a decision tree to determine whether a DOT post-accident test is needed. Drug testing policies typically limit post-accident testing to situations where the employer has a reasonable suspicion that the employee was impaired and the accident was directly caused by that impairment. Testing designed in a way that may be perceived as punitive or embarrassing is likely to deter injury reporting. Any testing should be clearly stated in your company policy, and each covered employee should be trained on it, receive a copy, and sign it.
Can an employee return to work after the test?
When post-accident testing is conducted, it is a good idea for employers not to allow employees involved in an accident to return to work prior to receiving the testing results, if the employee is safe to return.