UDS Collection site issues

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

Today I checked in and was selected to test. I went to my preferred (and only one available to me) site to do this. I had a previous test there on 10/29/15 with no big issues. Not so today. I ended up being there for three hours. They could not find the labs COC form. They ended up calling the lab and Affinity. The lab was closed, but Affinity stated that no other form could be substituted because of the specific lab's protocol involved, and that the only way the forms can be obtained is the collection site ordering them. They are never given to the participant.I then called the state monitoring program emergency number and got the program director (by now, it was after hours and my case manager gone for the day), who said I would be excused for the test because the collection site issues were not under my control and I had done my due diligence. I got copies of everything that I could get, such as text messages with Affinity, etc and messaged all of it to my case manager. I also left my case manager a voicemail.

Has anyone ever had something like this happen to them?

I know things happen (heck, I'm a nurse) but this is worrisome. I emphasized to the collection site, Affinity, and the program Director that I was concerned about this being recorded as my being noncompliant. I was told that I wouldn't be, that there have been notations being made in my record, and that I was excused. I did everything I could to give a specimen today. Good grief.

Thanks for listening!

[reneern623]

I use Affinity, and they give me my own COC forms. They send them 8 at time to my house. I'm sure we are probably in different states, but strange that Affinity wouldn't do it the same way everywhere!

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

I do think it differs by state. In the program I am in, the lab protocol doesn't allow it. The collection site is the only one that can have the forms.

Turns out, I have an option that might be a better collection site that I suggested to Affinity, and they are following up on it next week.

This test did get excused, after all. They also promptly refunded my money.

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

Went back for another test at this site. Things went smoothly, and I was out in a little over an hour.

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

Just this past week, I did my check in at 4 something in the morning, because that has always been when I tend to wake up, plus I prefer to go 1st thing in the morning. I am a nonstop water drinker and am terrified of getting a dilute. The one and only site I can go to also closes at 3 and the likelihood of me being able to leave work and drive across town is nonexistent. Anyhow, the entire time I have been sentenced to this BS, the check in has always been around 4ish. If I have to go (after a string of naughty words), I go and drop some money in the account (on principle, I refuse to give anymore money to this extortion racket any sooner than I absolutely have to.), get my number and be on my way. This particular morning, as I only had one eye chiseled open, I neglected to hit submit and complete the registration. So I get to the lab and they don't have my paper. Fortunately, it is usually the same staff and they ran it under a manual registration number. Now the trick is to get their manual one to link to my Affinity account. This was Wednesday and thus far, the Affinity site does not even show that a collection was done. I notified IPN and sent a note to my case manager (who seems to have changed and I've never been notified. Nice, huh?) but I've received no response.

Hopefully it will all work out. In this abusive, guilty until proven innocent, and then only if maybe we feel like it environment, i would not be shocked if my failure to hit a button, somehow winds up costing me more money, since that is what this is all about, Yes?

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

Finally! Affinity shows the expected negative. i knew it would, but given their track record for screwing up and therefore us somehow being responsible, I've been spazzing for a week. Great! Stress inducing, definitely. G-d, I hate this!

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

There are times...yes.