A Child Welfare Agency Doubted the Accuracy of Drug Tests Used in Court. The Testing Company Dodged Questions.

ProPublicaCenter-LeftEN 19 min read 100% complete by Alice HinesJanuary 20, 2026 at 11:30 AM

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long article 19 min

In 2020, Michigan child welfare officials raised concerns about the accuracy of drug tests provided by Averhealth, a company contracted by the state. These concerns stemmed from conflicting results compared to other law enforcement agencies' tests, leading to distrust in Averhealth's findings, which were used to make critical decisions about child placement. Around the same time, Averhealth's lab was placed on probation by its accreditor due to issues like data manipulation and failed proficiency tests. Despite repeated inquiries from Michigan officials, Averhealth did not disclose its probationary status, and the accreditor kept its findings confidential. Former employees also reported issues with understaffing, broken equipment, and pressure to expedite results. The discrepancies in testing and lack of transparency raised serious questions about the reliability of Averhealth's services within the Michigan child welfare system.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

ProPublica 40% Montcalm County 50% Jason Herzog 50% Sara Winter 60% College of American Pathologists' Forensic Drug Testing Accreditation Program 60% Michigan Department of Health and Human Services 70% Michigan ×580% Averhealth ×890%

Keywords

drug testing 100% child welfare agency 90% test accuracy 80% averhealth 80% conflicting results 70% probation 60% data manipulation 60% michigan 50% accreditation 50%