Undercover Sting Catches Quest Diagnostics Worker Falsifying Drug Test Results

Posted by Drug Test Digest Team | June 2, 2025

In a bizarre and unsettling twist worthy of a crime drama, a Quest Diagnostics employee in Colorado was caught on hidden camera accepting a $50 bribe to falsify a drug test. The sting, organized by FOX31 Denver, exposed the technician—identified as Travis Kear—who openly offered to swap out synthetic urine for a clean sample in exchange for cash. This incident comes just weeks after Quest Diagnostics warned that drug-test cheating hit a 30-year high, and follows another scandal where the lab was under fire over false positives in California prisons.

The incident unfolded at the Quest Diagnostics location in Thornton, Colorado, where undercover testers attempted to pass off synthetic urine as their own during a routine drug screening. Instead of reporting the suspicious sample, Kear allegedly offered a workaround: pay him $50, and he'd ensure the results came back "clean."

A Side Hustle in Plain Sight

“I got military buddies that come in here and eat edibles like they’re going out of style. They hand me 50 bucks, I turn my head,” said Kear in the hidden footage. He even added, “I’ll pee myself. Do it myself. I’m as clean as they come.”

Another woman—unrelated to the sting—reported a similar encounter with Kear, describing it as a “Mafia shakedown.” She also passed her test despite never submitting a legitimate sample. Her emotional retelling included fear, guilt, and a desperate need for employment, all of which Kear allegedly exploited.

Corporate Response

Quest Diagnostics, which reported $7.5 billion in revenue last year, moved quickly after FOX31 Denver alerted them. In a public statement, Quest said the employee had been terminated and federal authorities had been notified. They also promised to reach out to affected customers and offer complimentary retests.

“This rogue employee does not represent our 44,000 dedicated workers,” the company stated.

Why It Matters

With more employers relying on drug tests to screen potential hires—especially in safety-sensitive fields—the integrity of the testing process is critical. This sting doesn’t just highlight an individual’s misconduct; it raises broader concerns about oversight, trust, and the vulnerabilities within even the most established institutions.

To read the full original report, visit FOX31 Denver’s article.