Our source policy is designed to make drug-testing information traceable. Readers should be able to distinguish a binding rule from general guidance, a preliminary study from a settled standard, and a laboratory fact from a legal conclusion.
Preferred sources
We use the most direct and authoritative source reasonably available:
- Statutes, regulations, official court opinions, and current government publications.
- Official program manuals and standards from organizations such as SAMHSA, DOT, FDA, WADA, USADA, and NCAA.
- Clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements from recognized professional bodies.
- Systematic reviews and peer-reviewed studies relevant to the precise claim.
- Accredited laboratory or manufacturer documents for method-specific details, identified as such.
Primary versus secondary evidence
A secondary article can help identify an issue but should not replace the underlying rule, study, or official guidance when that source is available. We open cited material, confirm that it supports the statement, and check its publication or effective date.
Jurisdiction and program scope
Drug-testing rules are context-dependent. A federal transportation rule should not be presented as a rule for every employer. A WADA standard should not be attributed automatically to the NCAA. A state employment protection should not be generalized nationally. Articles should name the governing program and explain significant limits.
Handling disagreement
When reliable sources disagree, we describe the uncertainty and avoid false precision. Evidence quality, study population, specimen type, cutoff, analytical method, timing, and purpose can explain apparently conflicting conclusions.
Commercial and affiliate sources
Product pages, laboratory marketing, and vendor charts may be used for limited product-specific facts but are not treated as neutral proof of comparative accuracy, detection windows, or legal compliance. Sponsored or affiliate relationships must be disclosed and may not determine the editorial conclusion.
Citation placement
Sources are placed near the relevant section or in a clearly labeled primary-sources list. Links should go to the controlling document rather than a search-results page. When a document is updated regularly, the article should identify the review date and direct readers to verify the current edition.
Sources we avoid
- Anonymous claims without documents or methodology.
- Copied detection-window tables with no specimen, cutoff, or source.
- Search snippets used without reading the underlying page.
- Outdated rules presented as current.
- Testimonials used to establish test performance.
Reader verification
For consequential decisions, readers should open the cited authority, confirm the date and applicability, and consult the responsible program, clinician, laboratory, union, or lawyer. A citation makes a claim traceable; it does not convert general information into individualized advice.
Related: Editorial Standards and Authoritative Sources Directory.