DOT proposes oral fluid drug testing method

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing to amend the transportation industry drug testing program procedures regulation to include oral fluid testing.

According to the DOT, “this will give employers a choice that will help combat employee cheating on urine drug tests and provide a more economical, less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the program.”

The proposal includes other provisions to update the department’s regulation, and to harmonize, as needed, with the new Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The proposal seeks to:

• Permit oral fluid testing as an alternative drug testing method for DOT-regulated workplace testing.
• Harmonize, as needed, with the new Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Allow direct observation urine collections by any licensed or certified medical professional legally authorized to take part in a medical examination in the jurisdiction where the collection takes place.
• Allow MRO staff to contact pharmacies to verify a prescription that an employee provided.
• ‘Un-cancel’ a test that was ‘cancelled’ by the MRO if circumstances dictate.
• Allow the use of options of official identification numbers issued by State or Federal authorities to be used instead of Social Security Numbers.
• Laboratories provide to DOT bi-annually data that is categorized by test reason and specimen type.
• Laboratories withdrawing from the National Laboratory Certification Program provide DOT with the final data report for the reporting period in which they withdrew.
• Laboratories would be required to keep non-negative specimens for only 90 days.
• Require that the phone number provided on the Federal Drug Testing Custody Control Form for collectors connect directly to the collector and/or the collector’s supervisor and not a general call center.
• Remove provisions that no longer are necessary (such as compliance dates).
• Remove the “cross-reference” sections found at the end of the “subpart” sections.
• Add clarifying language to other provisions (such as updated definitions and web links where necessary), and
• Allow Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) to conduct evaluations virtually.

The proposal is available to read as a pdf.  It is also available at the ODAPC webpage.

The Trucker News Staff

The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.