What does a Suspended drug screen mean for my worker?

Last updated: November 11, 2026

Applies to: Staffing partners whose worker's assignment includes a drug screen. If you are the worker, see Your drug screen invitation expired or you cannot find a collection site instead.

Summary: Suspended on a drug screen means your worker completed the drug screen invitation and got a screen pass, but did not visit the collection clinic before the screen pass expired. An expired screen pass cannot be used again, so a new drug screen is needed: email support@ascen.com and we will order it. If the screen pass has not expired yet, ask us about extending it instead.

What Suspended means

A drug screen happens in two stages. First, your worker receives an invitation email from the screening provider and completes it to get a screen pass. Second, they take that screen pass to a collection clinic before its expiration date.

Suspended means the first stage was done but the second was not: the expiration date passed before your worker visited the clinic. Once a screen pass has expired, it cannot be reused or extended, so the drug screen cannot be completed until a new one is ordered.

You can follow the drug screen's status on the screening timeline in the worker's Background Checks tab. See Tracking background check progress.

What to do when a drug screen shows Suspended

  1. Email us. Send support@ascen.com the worker's full name and the client or assignment, and say that their drug screen shows Suspended. Ask us to order the new drug screen rather than ordering one from the assignment yourself.

  2. We order a new drug screen. Your worker receives a new invitation email from the screening provider.

  3. Your worker completes the new invitation. This gives them a new screen pass. The old screen pass will not work.

  4. Your worker visits a collection clinic before the new expiration date shown on the new screen pass.

Tell your worker to watch their inbox and spam folder for the new invitation. The email can take a few minutes to arrive. If it still has not arrived, email us and we will confirm the email address on the worker's profile.

Because your worker has to complete a new invitation and visit the clinic again, build that time into your plans and tell your client early if the start date may need to move. See How long do background checks and drug tests take? for the usual ranges once the worker has tested.

If the screen pass has not expired yet

If your worker cannot get to the clinic before their screen pass expires, email support@ascen.com before the expiration date with the worker's name, the assignment and, if you know it, when they can get to the clinic. We may be able to extend the screen pass. If we do, we set a new expiration date and your worker is emailed a new screen pass showing it.

Ask before the date passes. After a screen pass has expired it cannot be extended, the drug screen shows Suspended, and a new drug screen has to be ordered.

Suspended or Pending?

  • Pending: your worker has not finished the drug screen yet, and their screen pass may still be valid. Do not ask for a new drug screen while it shows Pending. If your worker is running out of time to visit the clinic, ask us about extending the screen pass instead.

  • Suspended: the screen pass expired before your worker visited the clinic. A new drug screen is needed.

If it is a background check, rather than a drug screen, that shows Suspended, email support@ascen.com with the worker's name and which check is affected.

Where to get help

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