If you’re looking for fast and accurate testing of DNA, drug or alcohol testing, look no further than DC Testing in Superior.
Kelli Hashey had a vision. She had spent 25 years working in a medical lab doing drug and alcohol testing.
“I was looking for something different, and the opportunity to purchase a drug and alcohol testing business came up,” Hashey said.
With her husband’s support, Hashey became the owner of DC Testing in Superior.
“We started in 850 feet of leased space, and it was just me doing testing and collections,” she said. “I made sure to introduce myself and let people in the industries that we serve know what we had to offer, and worked closely with a number of safety people in the area.”
Business boomed after a few short months, and Hashey realized she needed to hire more help. Her daughter, Corrie, is now the office manager. In 2017, after her husband, Dale, retired, he came on board, as well.
DC Testing is now the area’s leading testing location for transportation and other industries. DC Testing provides drug and alcohol testing, all required Department of Transportation (DOT)-specific collections and other workplace screening options, as well as paternity DNA collection, various phlebotomy services and insurance physicals. They also offer fingerprinting for state and federal background checks, CRT isokinetic testing (a measurement of muscle strength and range of motion that provides objective data to allow employers to objectively and confidently match a candidate to the physical requirements of a job) and an Exam One office that schedules physicals for health and life insurance.
“We continued to grow as we added federal background checks for TSA pre-check, TWIC (Transportation Security Administration) and Hazmat endorsements,” said Hashey.
Business continued to grow so much that the leased space was not big enough, so they began looking for other options. They are now located on Tower Avenue since January 2018. Hashey said this now warranted hiring another collector/technician, Seleana.
“We also sometimes find the need to use independent contractors for larger jobs and big hire events,” she added.
Hashey said the drug and alcohol testing is done for a multitude of reasons, from employment to court-ordered.
“There are two different types of testing, being DOT and non-DOT, with DOT, of course, having the strictest of regulations,” Hashey said. “All of our staff is DOT-certified and trained for the different collection types, in addition to urine; sometimes, hair and saliva are tested. There are many different options for testing; for instance, a condition of employment can include pre-employment screening, random testing, post-accident or reasonable suspicion or cause. Some need it for probation or court-ordered for other reasons. Paternity testing is another service we offer and can be collected and performed for just personal use or legally admissible.”
DC Testing has ChildGuard Hair Exposure testing, too. When a child is exposed to illegal substances, there could be coexisting obstacles that stem from this, such as neglect or violence. ChildGuard is designed to detect passive exposure to drugs. It distinguishes between native drugs and drug metabolites in hair specimens. The latter is produced in the body only if drugs were ingested. This means that, since most children in these environments are not users themselves, metabolites will be absent when a child is tested for exposure. ChildGuard forensic testing provides evidence of substance use in the environment for the previous three months and can be performed on any age.
Many states have legalized THC, so Hashey said it becomes that more important to make sure DC Testing keeps up with the new laws and regulations and the challenges to keep people safe. Federally, she said, THC is still illegal, so DOT collections remain the same. However, despite the Minnesota THC legalization, there have been more drug tests.
“This is one reason why keeping an open and close relationship with my customers is the key to our success, so that we can navigate changes and obstacles together,” Hashey said.
“Right now, we stay pretty busy, but who knows, most of the services we have added is because we saw a need that linked with others that we could provide to customers. Maybe if the right provider was interested, we could offer DOT medical services in the future; anything is possible!”
One client, Kendra Payette, a safety compliance manager with Halvor Lines in Superior, said how happy she was after visiting DC Testing.
“I can always count on DC Testing to get the job done correctly,” Payette said. “Their team is always professional and efficient, which is desired in a partner in business.”
Melissa Williams, director of human resources at Kivi Bros Trucking, said her company greatly values the exceptional service provided by DC Testing.
“Their team has consistently demonstrated professionalism, friendliness and a willingness to accommodate all of our employment needs,” she said. “From start to finish, they make the process seamless and stress-free, and we truly appreciated their dedication to delivering a positive experience every time. We look forward to continuing our partnership with DC Testing!”
DC Testing offers walk-in services from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for drug and alcohol testing. All other services require an appointment.
DC Testing is located at 1419 Tower Ave., just off the Bong Bridge. Call 715.718.2629 to make an appointment. To learn more, visit dctestingsuperior.com
