Parents of two students at Feilding High School are alleging their children were illegally drug tested without their consent. And they claim the tests may have become contaminated.
The children could not be named to protect their identities, but their parents say they are shocked at how the
school carried out the testing.
School parent and qualified drug tester Scott Guthrie also thinks the way the high school carried out the testing did not meet the New Zealand standard.
"I've spoken to one of the students who was drug tested and the procedure that was used leaves them wide open for a lawsuit," says Mr Guthrie.
According to the parents, samples were left unattended in the toilet allowing them to possibly be tampered with.
On another occasion four or five dip sticks with DNA from different students were put together into the same bag.
Parents claim that tests carried out were carried out by a person not qualified to test for drugs.
Mr Guthrie says a positive test for marijuana doesn't necessarily mean the student has been using it, but they could have been around someone else who was.
"Everybody in this country is legally allowed to have a certain level of marijuana in their body, it's 50 micrograms per litre of blood. So if the child shows an indication of that drug in their system, that means they could still be under the legal limit," says Mr Guthrie.
And sometimes a positive result for narcotics can have a less sinister cause.
"If a child has a filled roll for lunch with poppy seeds on it, that can give a positive indication for opiates," says Mr Guthrie.
Asked to address the various questions raised, Feilding High School says drug testing is carried out for a number of reasons including after disciplinary action, to ensure health and engagement in learning, and when undertaking work experience.
They say in all situations parents and caregivers are fully informed and must give consent for testing to occur.
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