Our post two days ago “Urine — or Ur-Out!” gave one reader with knowledge of the ins and outs of drug testing an opportunity to enlighten us – about the ins and outs of drug testing, and shy bladders.

Tim Thoelecke, Jr., President of InOut Labs in the Chicago area (“InOut Labs is a new concept in the health and wellness industry. Our approach to drug tests, wellness screenings, and background checks always keeps your convenience in mind”), very helpfully weighed in on the technicality of urine testing:

“For those who are not involved with drug testing, ‘shy bladder’ is a term used for those who can’t pee when asked to.  Most drug testing protocols follow those set out by the Dept. of Transportation (“DOT”).  Basically, you ask the donor to try.  If s/he cannot produce a specimen, you give them up to 40 oz. of water and up to 3 hours. If they still cannot do it, it is considered a refusal to test, which is treated the same as a positive result.  The refusal is reported to the MRO (medical review officer), who contacts the donor and asks for an explanation.  In general, though, 3 hours is plenty, and those with shy bladder are deliberately refusing to provide a specimen.

I agree that for non-DOT testing, it’s easy enough to substitute a hair or oral fluid test.  DOT must be urine, though.”

And he should know!