As a collector, can I accept an expired form of identification from an employee?

Yes, as long as the ID has been expired for one year or less. DOT offers guidance in the preamble to the oral fluid final rule, 88 Federal Register 27605 (May 2, 2023): “[T]he issue of employees using expired forms of identification at the collection site has been an ongoing problem. As we have advised [...]

By |September 20th, 2023|, , |Comments Off on As a collector, can I accept an expired form of identification from an employee?

Why are drug screening and confirmation cutoff levels different?

Screening and confirmation testing are performed using different methodologies that require different cutoff levels. The cutoff levels of an immunoassay (screen) are typically higher than those of a more sensitive GC-MS or LC-MS/MS confirmation test. The reason is that they test for a larger group of parent compounds, metabolites and other structurally similar compounds. If [...]

Understanding Drug Test Results

Understanding drug test results can be a challenging task. Here are some details to help with the understanding drug test results: Positive – Presence of drugs above the cutoff level Adulterated – Something has been done to alter the sample Shy Bladder – Inability to provide a sample Substituted Specimen / Invalid Specimen – Substance [...]

Comparison of Typical Drug Panels

Drugs5 Panel Non DOT10 Panel Non DOT10 Panel + Exp Opi5 Panel DOT "Like"5 Panel DOTAmphetamines (Including Meth & MDMA)✔✔✔✔✔Cocaine✔✔✔✔✔Phencyclidine✔✔✔✔✔Marijuana✔✔✔✔✔Opiates (Heroin, Codeine, Morphine)✔✔✔✔✔Barbiturates ✔✔  Methadone ✔✔  Propoxyphene ✔✔  Methaqualone ✔✔  Benzodiazepines ✔✔  Expanded Opiates (Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone)✔ ✔✔✔ Drugs 5 Panel 5 Panel + Opiates 9 Panel + Expanded Opiates Amphetamines (Including Meth & MDMA) ✔ ✔ ✔ Cocaine ✔ ✔ ✔ Phencyclidine [...]

Can employer make arrangements for the employee to see an employer-designated physician in case of not enough urine during collection process?

Question: If an employee is not able to provide enough urine during the collection process, and the employee must undergo a medical examination to determine if there is a legitimate medical explanation for the “shy bladder,” can the employer make arrangements for the employee to see an employer-designated physician? Answer: Yes. When an employee is [...]

By |May 29th, 2020||Comments Off on Can employer make arrangements for the employee to see an employer-designated physician in case of not enough urine during collection process?

If a donor has a “shy bladder,” how long can s/he stay at the collection site to provide a urine specimen?

49 CFR Part 40 requires that a donor be allowed up to three hours after an initial failed attempt to produce a sufficient urine specimen. During this time, the donor may drink up to 40 ounces of fluid spread over the three hour period. For this reason, many collection sites have a cutoff time for [...]

By |May 29th, 2020||Comments Off on If a donor has a “shy bladder,” how long can s/he stay at the collection site to provide a urine specimen?

Can’t drug users smuggle in clean or synthetic urine?

Yep. It happens. We catch a lot of them, but some inevitably slip though. Remember that your drug testing program is mostly about deterrence. We get a fair number of positives, but there would be a lot more drug use if there were no testing at all. A number of safeguards in the collection process [...]

By |May 29th, 2020||Comments Off on Can’t drug users smuggle in clean or synthetic urine?

My employee apologized for his positive drug test. Claimed he was at a party and did something stupid and it won’t happen again. I really don’t think he needs treatment. Can’t I just send him in for another test?

If he’s a regulated employer, no. A regulated employee (e.g. driver, under FMCSA) must complete the Return-to-Duty process. If he wants to return to work as a driver, he must contact a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and complete the Return-to-Duty process — even if he is not hired or is terminated. Your company’s drug and [...]

By |May 29th, 2020||Comments Off on My employee apologized for his positive drug test. Claimed he was at a party and did something stupid and it won’t happen again. I really don’t think he needs treatment. Can’t I just send him in for another test?