Overview
This nationally recognised course provides participants with the skills and knowledge required to perform specimen collection for drugs of abuse testing in accordance with legislative, workplace, and chain of custody requirements.
Participants learn how to prepare for, conduct, and finalise specimen collection procedures for urine, oral fluid (saliva), and breath alcohol testing, while maintaining strict privacy, infection control, legal, and ethical standards.
This course applies to workers in:
- Collection centres
- Hospitals and health care environments
- Workplace and on-site testing environments
- Any setting where drugs of abuse testing is conducted under regulated conditions
Learning outcomes
The course covers the following:
- Legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements relating to drugs of abuse testing
- Workplace procedures and responsibilities for specimen collection
- Preparation of the collection environment, equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Infection prevention and control protocols during specimen collection
- Client preparation, identification, consent, and privacy requirements
- Urine, Oral fluid (saliva) and Breath alcohol specimen collection procedures in accordance with chain of custody standards
- Completing documentation accurately to meet chain of custody and legal requirements
- Securing, labelling, storing, and preparing specimens for transport
- Maintaining confidentiality, privacy, and professional boundaries
- Managing irregularities, non-compliant behaviour, and unusual collection situations
- Understanding the effects and indicators of drugs of abuse relevant to the collection process
Entry Requirements
Participants must:
- Provide photo I.D on entry
- Unless exempt, provide a verifiable USI number
- Be physically fit and healthy with capacity to perform manual tasks
- Possess sufficient language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills to:
- Read and interpret procedures and documentation
- Accurately complete chain of custody forms
- Communicate clearly with clients
- Dress appropriately i.e., long sleeve, long pants or overalls, safety boots/closed in shoes, safety glasses
Please ensure you read our Student Handbook for further information on our policies, procedures, terms, and program conditions.
SDS is committed to identifying and supporting the language, literacy, numeracy and digital (LLND) needs of all learners. Where required, SDS may conduct an LLND assessment prior to training to determine whether any additional support or reasonable adjustment is needed.
Learners are encouraged to advise the training team at any time if they believe they may require learning support so appropriate arrangements can be made.
Delivery method
This course is delivered over one (1) day and consists of classroom-based theory learning with practical based activities.
Assessments
Assessment includes written and/or multiple-choice knowledge assessment and practical based skills assessments.
Completion
On successful completion of all assessment requirements participants will receive a Nationally Recognised Statement of Attainment for:
- HLTPAT010 Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing
Skills maintenance
There is no legislated expiry for this unit, industry best practice recommends refresher training every two (2) years to maintain competence and familiarity with current standards and procedures.
