COMPUTERIZED RANDOM SELECTION
This drug testing compliance software treats Random tests differently than other types of tests. In other test types, you tell the computer who is participating. With random testing however, the computer tells you who is participating. This is done through the Random Selection
Process. This software is designed under the premise that the cornerstone of every substance
abuse deterrence program is a verifiable, unbiased random selection.
When choosing participants for a random test, the computer uses a basic and complete method to insure unbiased selections. It is a double-blind selection method-one in which neither the
administrators nor the participants can predict or affect the outcome.
The computer does not examine Participant IDs or length of service, nor does it take into
account how many times, when, or whether participants have been tested in the past. It is
possible that someone chosen for a random test may have just completed a periodic test the
day before or was selected in the last random selection. The random element of chance is just
what is implied--a random chance.
Sometimes participants challenge a particular random selection or even the entire process. This drug testing compliance software utilizes an exclusive system called RandSel™ Tracking that
records actions that could affect the outcome of any random selection. The RandSel™ Tracking
system has proven itself in every challenge to date.
WHAT MAKES IT RANDOM
We offer the following example to help everyone better understand how this drug testing
compliance software makes random selections. Just follow along using your imagination.
First, you need some small pebbles-as many as you have participants in your pool. In some
circumstances this is as few as ten or as many as ten thousand. Label each pebble with one
participant’s unique identification-use their name, social security number or employee number.
Next, put all the pebbles in a bag and shake it well. Pull each pebble from the bag and, starting at the "twelve o’clock" position, place them in a complete circle clockwise on the ground. All
done? You should now have all your participants arranged in a random order in this circle.
Determine how many selections you want to make from this pool (and a separate number of alternates, if you wish). Next, just to make sure we are truly random, pick a number between one and the total number of pebbles in your circle. You will use this number in the next step. Look again at the twelve o’clock position and spot the first pebble you put down. Count pebbles clockwise until you have counted equal to the random number you just selected.
Now you are ready to begin making the actual selection(s). Continuing clockwise around the circle, pick up pebbles until you have the number of selections you want. Put these aside in their
own pile. These are your primary selections. Continuing where you left off, pick up the number of pebbles equal to the number of alternate selections you want to have and put them aside in
the order you selected them.
When performing your selections, it is perfectly acceptable if you pass the twelve o’clock
position. In fact, that will happen often. Realize that you can only pick up to 100% of the pool-no more. Everyone agrees that each participant had an equal and random chance of being
selected, right?
Look at the participant identification on each of the pebbles in the "winners" pile, write down the names in order by company number, home base ID code and then participant number. You
can put each company's Primary selections on a separate piece of paper if you like. Do the
same with the alternates, except note the order in which the alternates were selected so they
can be substituted for absentee Primary Selections in that order.
This simulation is very close to how the system generates your random selections and then
prints the lists for your use. But the program does so much more. It makes a record of each
step taken setting up the random, prints audit trails, notification letters, stores each eligible pool for future statistical analysis. Even creating test results automatically, this secure
system eliminates any possible bias that a human being could introduce.