Amarillo College Health Sciences require student:

• Immunizations
• Criminal background checks
• Drug screening
• HIPAA training

Complio provides an all in one compliance tracking program on one platform. Complio is compatible with Chrome and Firefox browsers only.

Drug Screen Information

The medical facilities who are affiliated with Amarillo College to provide clinical education courses require a 10-panel drug screen on all incoming students to ensure patient safety. The entire drug screen procedure may take up to 30 days to complete. Students are required to order the drug screen and submit a specimen in sufficient time to be reviewed by the school prior to starting clinical rotations.

Incoming students should begin the drug screen process only upon directions from the department. Failure to complete the drug test in the time period required will result in withdrawal from the program. All drug screens must be ordered through Complio at www.actxcompliance.com and urine specimens submitted within 30 days of ordering the drug screen. 

Use of CBD products may result in a positive drug test. A positive drug screen for marijuana metabolite is still considered a failed drug screen, regardless of whether a student is using CBD (cannabidiol) products derived from hemp plants that contain .3% or less delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD products derived from marijuana plants are not legal in the State of Texas. If enough THC is present, it will show up as a positive result on a urine drug screen.

Drug screens will be honored for the duration of the student’s enrollment in the clinical program if the participating student has not had a break in enrollment in a Health Sciences program. A break in enrollment is defined as nonattendance of one full semester or more. Also, if a clinical site requires that the drug screen be within a certain time frame before the student is at their facility the student may be required to submit to an additional drug screen. See your program director for further information.

The 10-panel urine drug screen includes testing for:

• Barbiturate (phenobarbital, butalbital, secobarbital)
• Amphetamine (speed, meth, crank, ecstasy)
• Opiates (heroin, morphine, opium, codeine)
• Methaqualone (Quaalude)
• Propoxyphene (narcotic, opioid) 
• Cocaine (coke, crack)
• Cannabinoids (marijuana, hash)
• Benzodiazepine (tranquilizers like Valium, Librium, Xanax)
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Methadone (opioid pain reliever, treats addiction to heroin or narcotic painkillers)

Result Outcomes

A Negative Drug Screen is required for a student to be eligible for clinical placement.

A Negative Dilute Drug Screen requires another urine sample to be submitted. The student is responsible for paying for the second test.

Here are some tips to avoid a possible negative dilute result:

• Limit the consumption of large amounts of water prior to the test.
• It is suggested that 8 oz or less is consumed for 2 hours prior to testing.
• A good alternative to hydrating yourself would be to drink two 8 oz glasses of orange juice (no coffee, soda, etc) prior to the test.

A Positive Drug Screen is any instance in which a drug screening report shows a positive test for one or more of the drugs on the panel. Any student with a positive drug screen will be withdrawn from the program. A positive result is reviewed by the Medical Review Office which is contracted by Complio. If the student wishes to dispute the positive result they will be allowed to test through an outside lab through the Complio system and there is an additional cost to the student of $300 and the student will be required to submit a new sample.  

If a positive result is verified as positive, the student will be withdrawn from the program and not allowed to return to clinical/practicum courses for 12 months AND the student completes a new drug screen in which a negative result is obtained.

Successful completion of a drug screen for a Health Sciences Program does not ensure eligibility for licensure or future employment.

Clinical agencies can require additional drug screens to be in compliance with their policies.

If a student is found to be ineligible for clinical placement any time during the program, the student is unable to meet clinical learning objectives and will be withdrawn pending resolution of the situation.

Costs

The student is responsible for all costs for the drug screen each time it is ordered as well as any dispute filed.

Confidentiality of Records

Drug screening reports and all records pertaining to the results are considered confidential information with restricted access. The results and records are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations.