PLEA Drug and Alcohol Laboratory Testing Approval Scheme

Effective 1st September 2023, the PLEA members companies will only accept drug and alcohol test results from laboratory sites that participated in and were approved under the PLEA Drug and Alcohol Laboratory Testing Certification Scheme.

The Scheme was developed because the PLEA membership recognized that drug and alcohol misuse pose a threat to the safety of their operations and are concerned about the reliability of drug and alcohol test results that are offered as proof of sobriety from among the contractor workforce. To address this concern, PLEA developed a Scheme to audit and approve laboratories that meet the required standards for drug and alcohol testing. The approved laboratories are listed below. Approval is site specific and while some laboratories may have multiple sites, PLEA will only accept drug and alcohol test results from approved sites.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q:        Why is the PLEA Drug and Alcohol Laboratory Testing Certification Scheme necessary?
A:      The Scheme was developed because the PLEA membership recognized that drug and alcohol misuse pose a threat to the safety of their operations and are concerned about the reliability of drug and alcohol test results that are offered as proof of sobriety from among the contractor workforce. To address this concern, PLEA developed a Scheme to audit and approve laboratories that meet the required standards for drug and alcohol testing.

Q:        What standards are laboratories expected to meet?
A:        Laboratories are audited against a locally customized checklist based on the Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) / Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA), now National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA), requirements.

Q:        Who conducted the audits of laboratories
A:        Trinidad & Tobago Bureau of Standards, Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS) was contracted by PLEA to conduct audits

Q:        Can I visit any site of an approved laboratory for drug and alcohol testing?
A:        No. Approval is site specific and while some laboratories may have multiple sites, persons must ensure that drug and alcohol test results are done only at approved sites.

Q:      Can you share the names of all the laboratories that participated in the Scheme
A:      No. Only the list of approved laboratory sites is available to the public

Q:        Who should I go to for more details on this Scheme
A:        Please send your queries to Nicole Simon-Thompson at drugtesting@energy.tt