My contractor says they failed a drug test — what to check first
Last updated: September 21, 2026
Applies to: Staffing partners whose worker's assignment includes a drug screen.
Summary: Before you act on it — and before you repeat it back to the worker — ask us to confirm two things: what the panel actually screened for, and what the result actually says. A screen can also come back needing a repeat test rather than a clear pass or fail, which is a different situation from a finished result.
1. Check what was actually screened
Screening packages differ by client and by assignment, and a panel does not necessarily cover every substance. It is entirely possible for a worker to be told they were flagged for something that was not on their panel at all.
Email support@ascen.com with the worker's name and assignment and ask us to confirm which screen is on file and what it covered. We can check the screening documents directly.
2. A result can be in review rather than pass or fail
A sample can come back inconclusive — for example too diluted to give a definitive reading. When that happens the result sits in review instead of completing, and the next step may be a repeat test. Retesting required is one of the statuses you can see on the screening timeline; see Tracking background check progress — the timeline view.
A result in review is not a finished result. What happens next depends on the specific result, so wait for us to confirm before treating it as an outcome or acting on it.
3. Ask us to set up the retest
If a repeat test is the next step, confirm to us in writing that you want it and we will order it and send the worker the invitation.
Build the time in. Drug tests normally take a few days from the date the worker attends — How long do background checks and drug tests take? has the usual ranges — so a retest will often mean moving the start date. Tell your client early rather than at the last moment.
What not to do
Do not relay an interpretation of a result to the worker before we have confirmed it. This is the most common way these situations get worse. A worker who believes they failed a test for something that was never screened has a grievance that is hard to undo, even once the record is corrected.
Do not arrange your own replacement screen to get a faster answer. Employment screening carries obligations that sit with Ascen as the employer of record — see Can I run my own background checks/drug tests?.
Do not treat a delay as a result. If the screen is simply taking longer than expected, see Why is the background check taking longer than expected?.
Who to contact
support@ascen.com, with the worker's name and the assignment. Include what the worker was told and who told them, if you know — that is often the fastest route to identifying where the wrong information came from.