Fentanyl Positivity Is More Than Seven Times Higher in Random Tests vs. Pre-Employment Drug Screening, Finds 2025 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) released its 2025 Drug Testing Index, revealing concerning trends in workplace drug testing. The analysis of over 8 million drug tests shows that fentanyl positivity in random tests (1.13%) was 707% higher than in pre-employment tests (0.14%), suggesting increased on-the-job usage.
While overall workplace drug positivity slightly declined to 4.4% from 4.6%, the data showed that 60% of fentanyl-positive specimens also contained other drugs. Notably, marijuana co-positivity with fentanyl doubled since 2020 to 22%, while amphetamine co-positivity increased to 16% from 11%.
The report also highlighted that marijuana remains the most detected substance with 4.5% positivity in the general workforce, with concerning post-accident positivity rates of 7.3%. For-cause testing showed a 33.1% positivity rate, demonstrating ongoing workplace substance abuse challenges.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) ha pubblicato il suo Drug Testing Index 2025, evidenziando tendenze preoccupanti nei test antidroga sul lavoro. L’analisi di oltre 8 milioni di test mostra che la positività al fentanyl nei test casuali (1,13%) è stata del 707% superiore rispetto ai test pre-assunzione (0,14%), suggerendo un aumento dell’uso durante l’orario di lavoro.
Pur registrando un lieve calo complessivo della positività sul posto di lavoro, al 4,4% rispetto al 4,6%, i dati indicano che il 60% dei campioni positivi al fentanyl conteneva anche altre sostanze. In particolare, la co-positività con la marijuana è raddoppiata dal 2020 arrivando al 22%, mentre la co-positività con le anfetamine è salita all’16% rispetto all’11%.
Il rapporto sottolinea inoltre che la marijuana resta la sostanza più rilevata con una positività del 4,5% nella forza lavoro generale, e presenta preoccupanti tassi post-incidente del 7,3%. I test per causa mostrano un tasso di positività del 33,1%, a conferma delle persistenti difficoltà legate all’abuso di sostanze sul posto di lavoro.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) publicó su Drug Testing Index 2025, revelando tendencias preocupantes en las pruebas de drogas en el entorno laboral. El análisis de más de 8 millones de pruebas indica que la positividad por fentanilo en las pruebas aleatorias (1,13%) fue un 707% mayor que en las pruebas previas al empleo (0,14%), lo que sugiere un mayor consumo en el lugar de trabajo.
Aunque la positividad general en el ámbito laboral descendió ligeramente hasta el 4,4% desde el 4,6%, los datos muestran que el 60% de las muestras positivas por fentanilo también contenía otras drogas. Notablemente, la co-positividad con marihuana se duplicó desde 2020 hasta el 22%, mientras que la co-positividad con anfetaminas aumentó al 16% desde el 11%.
El informe también destaca que la marihuana sigue siendo la sustancia más detectada, con una positividad del 4,5% en la fuerza laboral general, y con preocupantes tasas de positividad tras accidentes del 7,3%. Las pruebas por causa presentan una tasa de positividad del 33,1%, lo que demuestra los persistentes problemas de abuso de sustancias en el trabajo.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX)는 2025년 약물 검사 지수를 발표하며 직장 내 약물 검사에서 우려스러운 추세를 밝혔다. 800만 건이 넘는 검사 분석 결과 무작위 검사에서의 펜타닐 양성률(1.13%)이 채용 전 검사(0.14%)보다 707% 높아 업무 중 사용이 증가했음을 시사했다.
전반적인 직장 내 약물 양성률은 4.6%에서 4.4%로 다소 감소했지만, 데이터는 펜타닐 양성 표본의 60%가 다른 약물을 함께 포함하고 있음을 보여준다. 특히 펜타닐과의 대마(마리화나) 동시 양성률은 2020년 이후 두 배로 증가해 22%에 이르렀고, 암페타민 동시 양성률은 11%에서 16%로 상승했다.
보고서는 또한 직장 전체에서 대마가 여전히 가장 많이 검출되는 물질로 4.5%의 양성률을 보였고, 사고 후 검사에서는 우려스러운 7.3%의 양성률을 기록했다고 강조했다. 원인 규명 목적의 검사에서는 33.1%의 양성률을 보여 직장 내 약물 남용 문제가 지속되고 있음을 나타낸다.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) a publié son Drug Testing Index 2025, révélant des tendances préoccupantes dans les dépistages de drogues en milieu professionnel. L’analyse de plus de 8 millions de tests montre que le taux de positivité au fentanyl lors des tests aléatoires (1,13 %) était 707 % plus élevé que lors des tests préalables à l’embauche (0,14 %), ce qui suggère une augmentation de l’usage pendant le travail.
Si le taux global de positivité au travail a légèrement diminué à 4,4 % contre 4,6 %, les données indiquent que 60 % des échantillons positifs au fentanyl contenaient également d’autres drogues. Notamment, la co-positivité avec le cannabis a doublé depuis 2020 pour atteindre 22 %, tandis que la co-positivité avec les amphétamines est passée de 11 % à 16 %.
Le rapport souligne également que le cannabis demeure la substance la plus détectée avec un taux de positivité de 4,5 % dans la population active générale, et des taux post-accident préoccupants de 7,3 %. Les tests sur motif affichent un taux de positivité de 33,1 %, témoignant des difficultés persistantes liées à l’abus de substances en milieu professionnel.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) veröffentlichte seinen Drug Testing Index 2025 und zeigt besorgniserregende Trends bei Drogentests am Arbeitsplatz. Die Auswertung von mehr als 8 Millionen Tests ergibt, dass die Fentanyl-Positivrate bei Zufallstests (1,13%) 707% höher war als bei Vorbeschäftigungstests (0,14%), was auf eine Zunahme des Gebrauchs während der Arbeitszeit hindeutet.
Während die Gesamtpositivrate am Arbeitsplatz leicht auf 4,4% statt 4,6% sank, zeigen die Daten, dass 60% der fentanyl-positiven Proben auch andere Drogen enthielten. Auffällig ist, dass die Koinzidenz von Marihuana mit Fentanyl seit 2020 auf 22% verdoppelt wurde, während die Amphetamin-Koinzidenz von 11% auf 16% anstieg.
Der Bericht hebt außerdem hervor, dass Marihuana mit einer Positivrate von 4,5% in der allgemeinen Erwerbsbevölkerung die am häufigsten nachgewiesene Substanz bleibt, mit besorgniserregenden Nach-Unfall-Positivraten von 7,3%. Anlassbezogene Tests wiesen eine Positivrate von 33,1% auf und zeigen damit fortbestehende Probleme mit Substanzmissbrauch am Arbeitsplatz.
- Overall workplace drug positivity declined to 4.4% from 4.6% in 2023
- Federally mandated safety-sensitive workers showed lower positivity rates compared to general workforce
- For-cause testing positivity decreased to 33.1% from 39.4% in 2023
- Post-accident testing positivity improved slightly from 10.4% to 10.2%
- Fentanyl positivity 707% higher in random tests vs pre-employment screening
- 60% of fentanyl-positive specimens contained other drugs
- Marijuana and fentanyl co-positivity doubled since 2020 to 22%
- Amphetamines positivity increased to 1.7% from 1.5% in 2023
- Marijuana post-accident positivity remains high at 7.3%
Insights
Quest's data reveals alarming 707% higher fentanyl positivity in random vs. pre-employment testing, strengthening DGX's critical role in workplace health monitoring.
Quest Diagnostics' latest Drug Testing Index provides critical intelligence on workplace substance use patterns, positioning the company as an essential provider of workforce health monitoring solutions. The report's findings on fentanyl testing are particularly significant - showing a
The data identifying drug-combining behavior is equally concerning, with
While overall drug positivity declined slightly to
The company's ability to track these sophisticated substance use patterns - including the rise in amphetamine positivity to
Majority of fentanyl positives also contain other drugs, with co-positivity with marijuana doubling since 2020
The new report reveals changing patterns of drug use by the nation's workforce. While the analysis of more than 8 million drug tests shows that overall workplace urine drug positivity declined slightly last year, to
In 2024, the general
In addition,
"The new Quest data indicates a worrying increase in fentanyl positivity in random drug tests as well as fentanyl drug-combing among the nation's workforce in day-to-day work environments," said Suhash Harwani, PhD, Senior Director of Science for Workforce Health Solutions at Quest Diagnostics. "It is disturbing to see increased use of fentanyl on-the-job and in combination with other drugs, given fentanyl's extreme potency, which can increase risk of impairment, accidents, and potential overdose. It also raises concern that employees are turning to a dangerous drug like fentanyl after they've passed a pre-employment drug screen, putting the overall wellness of the workforce at risk."
A January 2025 CDC report suggests a slight increase in fatal overdoses in January 2025 compared to January 2024 following consecutive years of decline. Fentanyl has since proliferated in the
Other key findings from the Quest Diagnostics report include:
Marijuana Leads Workplace Drug Detections as Post-Accident Positivity Remains High
Marijuana remains the most frequently detected substance, with positivity holding steady at
Overall Positivity Trends Remain Elevated Despite Modest Declines
In 2024, the combined
"The overall drug positivity rate continues to reflect persistent trends," said Sam Sphar, Vice President and General Manager of Workforce Health Solutions at Quest Diagnostics. "When we talk to employers, they tell us the same thing the Quest data tells us – that drug abuse is an ongoing issue among the American workforce. Many also realize that permissive attitudes around drug use can put their non-substance using employees, not to mention the general public, at risk."
Amphetamines Positivity Rates Increase; Other Positivity Remains Consistent
In the general
In contrast, several opioids and related substances showed ongoing declines. 6-AM, the metabolite of heroin, decreased to
Testing Positivity for Suspicion of Drug Use Declines
The 2025 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index reveals that drug test positivity continues to vary significantly depending on the testing circumstance. In the general
"While it's encouraging to see slight declines in for-cause, post-incident and return-to-duty drug test positivity rates, the rates continue to be elevated. For instance, the Quest data showing that about one in three employees tested for cause were positive for drug use demonstrates opportunities for employers to bolster psychologically safe practices and recovery-supportive programs, enhancing both employee reporting and safety initiatives," said Claire Bryant, Senior Program Manager of Workplace Wellbeing at the National Safety Council.
Among federally mandated, safety-sensitive workers, who are typically subject to stricter testing protocols, for-cause positivity was
About the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™
The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ (DTI) is a series of reports that provide insights into trends in workforce drug use based on positivity rates of deidentified laboratory tests performed by Quest Diagnostics for a range of illicit, legal and prescription drugs. It examines test results according to three categories of workers: the federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce; the general
The strengths of the DTI analysis include its large, nationally representative sample size, longitudinal monitoring, a testing population that is generally reflective of the
About Quest Diagnostics Workforce Health Solutions
Through its workforce health solutions, Quest Diagnostics is a leading provider of laboratory testing and other services designed to optimize the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees. Quest workforce health solutions includes population health and biometric and laboratory screening services to identify and act on disease risks in the earliest stages; workplace drug testing services to help identify and pre-empt dangerous workplace drug use; and OSHA-required laboratory screening and vaccination services. Based on the industry-leading diagnostics expertise of Quest Diagnostics, our solutions incorporate the latest science, technology and innovations in laboratory medicine and healthcare management to reveal the actions that will improve workforce health, for better medical care and lower costs. For more information, visit WorkforceHealthSolutions.com.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across the healthcare ecosystem to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We provide diagnostic insights from the results of our laboratory testing to empower people, physicians, and organizations to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from one of the world's largest databases of de-identifiable clinical lab results, Quest's diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors, and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the
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FAQ
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