Testing and monitoring services

Three ways to test with us

Almost everyone who calls us fits into one of three situations. You need a single answer, you need a structure that keeps going for weeks or months, or you need a full monitoring relationship with a person who follows your progress. The services below line up with those needs. Each one uses the same tests, the same appointment-based collection and the same rule about privacy: results go only to the people you authorize in writing.

• One-time testing

  A single drug or alcohol test when you need a clear answer now: for peace of mind, a family conversation, or a one-off requirement. Booked by appointment at our Venice Blvd office.

  One-time tests in Los Angeles

• Random drug testing program

  You get an electronic notice when it is time to test and report to your location. Unpredictable timing is what makes results meaningful to the people who rely on them.

  Random testing program

• Ongoing monitoring

  Random and scheduled testing combined with a coordinator who knows you, tracks your record, keeps your authorized contacts informed and helps when things get hard.

  Drug and alcohol monitoring

• Court ordered and attorney referred

  Testing for probation, diversion and other legal requirements, with chain of custody documentation and lab confirmation of positives.

  Court ordered testing

How to choose

If you are not sure which service fits, that is normal. Here is how we usually think about it with callers.

Choose one-time testing if

• You need one result for one purpose, and nobody is expecting ongoing reports.
• A family member has agreed to a test and you want an objective, observed result instead of a home cup.
• You want a baseline before deciding whether a longer program makes sense.

Choose a random testing program if

• Someone in your life needs to see consistent evidence over time, and announced tests would not be convincing.
• You are leaving treatment or sober living and want structure that is simple to follow.
• Your therapist, program or attorney has recommended random testing.

Choose ongoing monitoring if

• You want a real person tracking progress, not just a stream of results.
• Several people need updates, such as a parent, a clinician and an attorney, each with your written consent.
• There is a history of relapse, and you want a plan for what happens if a test comes back positive.

Plans are set case by case. Frequency can go up during a high-risk period and come down as trust is rebuilt. You never have to guess on your own; your coordinator will recommend a starting point and adjust it with you.

Tests available in every service

• 12 panel urine drug test: an instant screen for common substances such as opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines and cannabis.
• EtG alcohol test: a urine test that can detect drinking over the past several days.
• Breathalyzer (BAC): shows alcohol in your system at the moment of the test.
• Saliva drug test: observed oral fluid testing, available on request.
• Lab confirmation: presumptive positives can be sent to a partner laboratory for confirmation.

Instant screens are designed to be fast and inexpensive, and they are a valuable first look. But screening and confirmation are different steps. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a positive screen should be confirmed by a more specific laboratory method, and testing alone should not be the only basis for decisions about someone’s care. We build that thinking into every program.

Where and when we test

Testing is by appointment only. We do not accept walk-ins, because a scheduled visit means you are seen promptly and your collection is handled correctly.

• Office: 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066.
• Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
• Outside office hours: testing can be arranged at other Blackburn locations on the Westside.
• Mobile testing: we come to your home or workplace for an additional fee.

Details on parking and what to bring are on the location page.

What we do not offer

Being clear about limits helps you choose the right provider. We do not perform DOT-regulated testing for transportation employers; that work is governed by federal rules in 49 CFR Part 40 and belongs with specialized collection sites. If you are in a court or licensing program that names a specific required vendor, ask your attorney or program first; we are glad to support you alongside that vendor with therapy, mentoring or private accountability testing.

Cost

We keep testing low cost. What you pay depends on the tests you need, how often you test, whether a result goes to a lab for confirmation, whether chain of custody documentation is required, and whether you test at our office or use mobile testing. Here is how pricing works, and your coordinator will give you current pricing on the phone.

Need more than testing?

A test result tells you what is happening. It does not tell you what to do next. Because Blackburn Monitoring is part of The Blackburn Group, your coordinator can connect you with the right kind of help without starting from scratch somewhere else.

• Therapy and psychiatry

  Individual therapy and psychiatric care for substance use and the mental health concerns that often travel with it.

  Blackburn Clinical Services

• Sober living

  Structured sober living and sober apartments for men in West Los Angeles, for when more support at home would help.

  Blackburn Recovery Services

• Mentoring

  One-on-one mentoring for accountability and structure, with a consistent person who checks in and helps you follow through.

  Blackburn Mentoring

• Scholarship help

  Treatment scholarships through our nonprofit for people who need care and cannot cover the full cost.

  The Blackburn Foundation

Your monitoring coordinator can make the introduction.

Ready to start?

The first step is a conversation. Tell us what is happening and what you need, and we will recommend a service, a set of tests and a schedule. Read how it works or go straight to contact and get started.