Update on March 8, 2021: Due to severe storms in Memphis, Tennessee from February 15 to 18, 2021, FedEx has experienced widespread shipping delays and a backlog of lab specimens to all our partner labs. Please note the following:
- eScreen was notified by FedEx of several packages lost during the storm. eScreen has since reported this to be 92 total packages from February 15 – 17.
- Quest has received no FedEx communication. While their backlog is caught up, their lab received some specimens on Friday from February 19.
- Additionally, LabCorp is reporting some weather-related specimens still trickling into their labs, but have not provided actual counts yet.
As a result, Sterling will close out any orders as “Lost in Transit” for specimens from February 15-17 that have not been received by the lab. If you have any questions, please contact your Sterling Client Success representative.
Update on March 1, 2021: Due to severe storms in Memphis, Tennessee from February 15 to 18, 2021, FedEx has experienced widespread shipping delays and a backlog of lab specimens to all our partner labs. Delayed tests should now have been delivered to the labs and should be completed in the next one to three days (or longer if a test requires additional follow up). We recommend that you leave original drug tests open, allowing results to be received once available. Sterling does not recommend closing drug test results due to storm delays as “lost in transit”. If you want to have candidates get re-tested, you can add a new drug test to the order, but should leave the original search open to receive results when delivered. We will continue to supply you updates as they become available.
Update on February 24, 2021: Due to a severe storm in Memphis, Tennessee, Sterling anticipates continued shipping delays of lab specimens to all our partner labs as FedEx works through its backlog. Turnaround time has been extended to five to seven days. We recommend that you leave original drug tests open, allowing results to be received once available. Sterling does not recommend closing drug test results due to storm delays as “lost in transit”. If you want to have candidates get re-tested, you can add a new drug test to the order, but should leave the original search open to receive results when delivered. We will continue to supply you updates as they become available.
Update on February 23, 2021: Due to a severe storm in Memphis, Tennessee, Sterling anticipates continued shipping delays of lab specimens to all our partner labs as FedEx works through its backlog. Turnaround time continues to be impacted between two to five days, but we recommend that you leave original drug tests open, allowing results to be received once available. Sterling does not recommend closing drug test results due to storm delays as “lost in transit”. If you want to have candidates get re-tested, you can add a new drug test to the order, but should leave the original search open to receive results when delivered. We will continue to supply you updates as they become available.
Update on February 19, 2021: Extreme weather conditions swept across much of the country this week As a result, we anticipate continued delays for criminal, verification, and drug and health services, including in Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Extended delays are expected for criminal searches and verifications with external dependencies. Patient Service Centers and eScreen managed collection sites may also be impacted. We strongly encourage clients and their candidates to contact their chosen collection site to verify hours of operation in impacted states. Additionally, the severe ice storm that hit Memphis, FedEx’s primary hub, is causing widespread shipping delays of lab specimens to all our partner labs. Turnaround time continues to be impacted between 3 – 5 days. Because all FedEx packages flow through and are sorted for distribution in Memphis, delays have impacted all packages regardless of location since the storm began at the beginning of the week. More information can be found on FedEx’s service delays
website. Thank you for your patience.
Update on February 17, 2021: Another winter storm will bring snow and ice to approximately 100 million people from the South to the East Coast over the next couple of days. As a result, we anticipate continued delays for criminal, verification, and drug and health services across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Patient Service Centers and eScreen managed collection sites may also be impacted. We strongly encourage clients and their candidates to contact their chosen collection site to verify hours of operation in impacted states. Additionally, we have confirmed reports of transit delays of lab specimens to all our partner labs that may increase turnaround times by approximately three to five days. We also anticipate similar delays to the shipment of supplies (COCs, collection kits, shipping supplies, etc.) to our customers. Thank you for your patience.
Update on February 15, 2021: The U.S. continues to experience another winter storm that recently hit the mid-South – impacting Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas. While Kentucky has experienced court closures in Barren, Jefferson, Kenton, Warren, and McCracken jurisdictions, the winter storm is expected to head into the Midwest/Northeast parts of the U.S. today. Like the mid-South, we anticipate continued delays for criminal, verifications and drug and health screening services. We also have confirmed reports of transit delays of lab specimens with shipping providers due to the winter storms that will may increase turnaround times 1-2 days.
Published February 12, 2021: A winter storm recently hit the mid-South – impacting Kentucky, Texas and parts of Tennessee and West Virginia. We are also aware of the Kentucky court closures in Boone, Jefferson, Kenton and McCracken jurisdictions. As a result, we anticipate delays for criminal searches and verifications with external dependencies. Patient Service Centers and eScreen managed collection sites may also be impacted. We strongly encourage clients and their candidates to contact their chosen collection site to verify hours of operation. Thank you for your patience.
