- Australian employers are being urged to prepare for the end of the 36-month transition from AS/NZS 4308:2008 to AS/NZS 4308:2023, following the updated standard's publication on 10 November 2023.
- Key changes under the updated standard include revised cocaine screening cut-off concentrations, stronger specimen integrity requirements, enhanced quality-control procedures, updated collector responsibilities, and clearer chain-of-custody requirements.
- Employers still using 2008-standard testing devices risk returning false negative results for cocaine at concentrations that would trigger a not-negative result under the 2023 standard, posing significant safety risks in certain industries.
- Once the transition period ends, NATA will assess facilities against AS/NZS 4308:2023, and any facility remaining accredited to the 2008 standard will have that accreditation withdrawn.
- Employers are advised to review five key areas before the deadline: testing devices, workplace drug and alcohol policies, quality control processes, collection procedures and documentation, and staff competency.
Australian Employers Urged to Prepare for AS/NZS 4308:2023 Urine Drug Testing Transition
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Tuesday, 4th August 2026
Perth, WA. Australian employers are being urged to prepare for the end of the 36-month transition from AS/NZS 4308:2008 to AS/NZS 4308:2023, following publication of the updated standard on 10 November 2023.
According to Perth-based workplace drug, alcohol and hydration testing specialist Sober Check Australia, organisations should now review their testing devices, workplace policies, procedures, and quality control processes to ensure they align with the updated Australian Standard before the deadline.
This transition is not simply about changing testing devices; employers should also review workplace policies, collector competency, chain of custody procedures, and quality control processes introduced under the updated standard.
What is changing
AS/NZS 4308:2023, published on 10 November 2023 by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, replaces the 2008 edition after a three-year transition period.
The updated standard introduces several important changes, including revised cocaine screening cut-off concentrations, stronger specimen integrity requirements, enhanced quality-control procedures for on-site testing, updated collector responsibilities, and clearer chain-of-custody requirements.
Testing cups and devices calibrated to the old threshold may not detect cocaine at concentrations that would now trigger a not-negative result under AS/NZS 4308:2023, at the lower 2023 cut-off, which means a testing programme still running on 2008-standard equipment can return a false negative on a sample that would fail under the current standard. That gap matters most in industries where a missed positive result carries direct safety consequences rather than a compliance paperwork issue alone.
Sober Check Australia has transitioned its urine drug testing product range to align with AS/NZS 4308:2023 and is supporting workplaces through updated guidance, product training and compliant testing solutions
For Sober Check Australasia CEO, Louis Foster, it is critical that Australian employers move quickly to meet the requirements of the new standards.
"AS/NZS 4308:2023 is about much more than changing a testing device,” said Mr Foster.
"The updated standard places greater emphasis on the integrity of the entire testing process, including quality control, specimen integrity, documentation and chain of custody.
“Employers should use the remaining transition period to review their testing devices, workplace policies, procedures and the competence of staff conducting testing. The important question isn’t simply whether you’re using the right device; it’s whether you can demonstrate confidence in the entire testing process.”
What the transition means for employers
NATA’s published transition policy states that once the transition period ends, facilities will be assessed against AS/NZS 4308:2023. Facilities that have not transitioned and remain accredited to AS/NZS 4308:2008 will have that accreditation withdrawn.
For employers, this makes it more important to understand which version of the standard their laboratory or third-party testing provider is currently accredited against. NATA scopes of accreditation already show providers accredited for testing against AS/NZS 4308:2023
Organisations conducting their own in-house testing should also use the transition period to review their devices, procedures, quality control processes and staff competency.
Employers still running 2008-standard testing have time to switch providers, retrain staff on updated procedures and confirm their new testing partner’s NATA accreditation status before the window closes.
Five things employers should review ahead of the AS/NZS 4308:2023 transition
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Devices: Confirm urine drug testing devices meet the current screening requirements, including the revised cocaine metabolite cut-off, and that appropriate verification documentation is available.
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Policies: Review workplace Drug and Alcohol Policies to ensure they reference the current standard and remain consistent with your testing procedures.
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Quality control: Organisations conducting on-site testing should ensure that appropriate high- and low-control testing, lot verification, and quality control records are incorporated into their programme.
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Procedures and documentation: Review collection procedures, specimen integrity checks, chain-of-custody documentation, specimen security and the handling of not-negative results.
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Staff competency: Ensure personnel involved in specimen collection and on-site testing understand the requirements of AZ/NZS 4308:2023 and are competent to perform their responsibilities.
Resources for Australian Employers
Sober Check Australia has developed a series of practical resources to help employers prepare for the transition, including its AS/NZS 4308:2023 Guide, Complete Guide to Workplace Drug Testing in Australia and guidance on developing an effective Workplace Drug and Alcohol Policy.
About Sober Check
Sober Check Australia supplies workplace drug and alcohol testing solutions across Australia, including compliant urine and oral fluid testing devices, breath alcohol testing equipment, product training, procedural guidance and technical support for managing workplace testing programmes.
Media contact
For all media enquiries, images, or interviews, please contact Becks Stratton e [email protected] / p + 64 9 918 2437.
ENDS
About us:
About Sober Check
Sober Check Australia supplies workplace drug and alcohol testing solutions across Australia, including compliant urine and oral fluid testing devices, breath alcohol testing equipment, product training, procedural guidance and technical support for managing workplace testing programmes.
Contact details:
For all media enquiries, images, or interviews, please contact Becks Stratton e [email protected] / p + 64 9 918 2437.
