City of Houston Human Resources Department - Centralized Drug Testing Program

About the Program

The City of Houston Centralized Drug Testing Program (CDTP) provides integrated administration, coordination, oversight, and compliance for all City drug and alcohol testing programs. The program serves as the single point of contact between City departments, applicants, employees, collection sites, Medical Review Officers (MROs), and contracted testing vendors to ensure testing is conducted consistently, securely, and in compliance with applicable laws and City policies. The CDTP ensures consistent adherence to Executive Order 1‑12, Administrative Policy 2‑2 and all applicable regulatory requirements across City departments.
The program supports the City's commitment to maintaining a safe, drug-free workplace while protecting employee rights and ensuring standardized practices across all departments.

Who Takes a Drug Test

All safety impact positions - Employment positions involving safety-sensitive job duties which if performed with inattentiveness, errors in judgment, or diminished coordination, dexterity, or composure, may result in mistakes that could present a threat to the personal health and safety of the employee, co-workers, and/or the public.

DOT regulated roles - Those employees that have CDL license test under these guidelines in accordance with Executive Order 1-12
Non safety impact employees under specific circumstances

Resources

Centralized Drug Testing Team
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Friday: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Contact Information:
Phone: (832) 393-6053
coh.drugtesting@houstontx.gov
Testing Sites

After-Hours, Weekend and Holiday Testing:
Weekdays: Monday through Friday after 7:00 PM
Weekends and Holidays: Saturday, Sunday, and all City of Houston recognized holidays 24 hours a day
Emergency Response: Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for critical incidents requiring immediate testing

The Centralized Drug Testing Team is available with extended business hours to assist with scheduling, testing coordination, program guidance, and general inquiries. Requests received outside of normal business hours that require immediate attention should follow the After-Hours Drug Testing Procedure.

The Key Phases of Drug Testing

Click Start to Review

Request & Initiation

Drug test need is identified
Department submits a request
Appropriate test type is determined
Required documentation is reviewed

Authorization & Preparation

Employee or applicant is notified
Informed consent is obtained
Testing authorization (Passport) is created
Collection site is assigned

Scheduling & Coordination

Appointment is scheduled
Employee receives testing instructions
Vendors and collection sites are coordinated
Testing timelines are monitored

Collection & Laboratory Processing

Identity is verified
Specimen is collected
Chain of Custody is completed
Laboratory analyzes the specimen

Medical Review & Verification

Results are reviewed by the Medical Review Officer (when required)
Non-negative results are evaluated
Final verified results are released

Results Management & Closeout

Results are communicated to the appropriate parties
Tracking systems are updated
Records are maintained
Case is closed and retained for compliance and audit purposes

Reasons for Testing

Reason	Purpose	Individuals Subject to Testing
Pre-Employment	Policy Compliance	Applicants
Promotion (Pre-Assignment)	Policy Compliance	Employees promoting to a safety sensitive position
Post-Accident	Incident Investigation	All employees involved in qualifying accidents on the job
Reasonable Suspicion	Observable behavior	All current employees
Follow-up	Continued monitoring	• Employee who voluntarily identifies him/herself to the city as having a drug or alcohol abuse problem • All employees in a safety impact position returning to work after an absence of more than 30 consecutive calendar days.
Random	Deterrence and compliance	All safety-sensitive employees

After-Hours Scheduling Process - Call before dispatching the employee

All after-hours collections require advance coordination with the on-call collector.
Click on the options below and follow instructions:

Urine drug screens and breath alcohol testing only — The Technician/Provider will meet the employee and supervisor within one hour of the initiated phone call or at an alternate time coordinated with the technician.
To call, follow the order below until a response is received:
1st Contact: 713-817-5065
2nd Contact: 281-541-8714
3rd Contact: 713-382-7208

Alliance Health Resources Occupational Medical Clinic
2910 Center St.
Deer Park, TX 77536

To call, follow the order below until a response is received:
1st Contact: 346-274-1188
2nd Contact: 832-428-7204
3rd Contact: 832-607-4007

Test First Drug & Alcohol Central Clinic
1213 Hermann Drive
Houston, Tx 77004

Once an on-call collector confirms availability, provide the employee with the collection site location and any additional instructions; instruct the employee to report to the designated collection site as directed

Important Reminders

Do not send an employee directly to a collection site without first contacting the on-call collector
Employees should proceed to the collection site only after receiving confirmation and instructions from the on-call collector
Follow all applicable City policies and regulatory timeframes for after-hours testing

Frequently Asked Questions

▾ If I sign in and I need to leave, may I reschedule my test?

No, once you have signed in, you must comply with the City of Houston Drug Test Policy. If you do not provide a specimen within the allotted time frame, it will be considered a “refusal to test”, which is treated as a failed test, and the job offer will be rescinded.
The job offer being rescinded only applies to new hire and re-hires. Once an employee has been notified to take a test, unless hospitalized, no sick leave, vacation, emergency vacation or other leave may be authorized until the collection process is completed.

▾ If I am currently taking prescribed medications, should I bring those with me?

No, due to Federal Laws, City of Houston is not allowed to ask what medications anyone is taking. If a controlled substance is identified, you will be asked to contact a Medical Review Officer.

▾ Should I drink a lot of water before a test?

No. Too much water before a drug test can interfere with results and create a major problem. The sample is flagged as diluted.

▾ What happens if a test is “dilute”?

A dilute result occurs when the urine has more water than normal. It may indicate intentional dilution or high fluid intake and a second test is required.

▾ As a Manager/Supervisor, what should I do if I have not received an employee's drug test results?

If you haven't received the results within 72 hours, please follow up with coh.drugtesting@houstontx.gov or call (832) 393-6053.

▾ What happens if I get to the initial site and they are closed or do not have the capacity to handle testing?

The employee shall have an additional two (2) hours to be tested at a secondary site to which the employee is instructed to utilize and keep your manager apprised of the updated site.