Random Pools

Using the Random Pools method to select individuals for drug or alcohol testing is a three-step process. You must create a job record for every job that will be in the pool, create and maintain a job history record for each eligible employee, and create and maintain the pool itself. The steps may be done in any order but all must be completed before drawing the random sample.

If you use this type of random sampling, all Jobs, Job History, Random Pools, and Patient Summary records must be meticulously accurate. Failure to maintain accurate data can weaken one’s case in the event of a lawsuit.

For statistical sampling, the larger the group, the better the chances of obtaining a good random sample. A large company will have enough workers for a valid sample. But a smaller company may not have enough employees to achieve a statistically random sample. A small firm may, therefore, elect to include its employees in a larger group consisting of workers from several other companies. Such a group is called a “consortium.” The workers themselves constitute a “pool” from which a small number of names (called the “sample”) is selected for the actual drug or alcohol testing.