The drug-free workplace is an alphabet soup of acronyms. Following is a cheat sheet.

DHHS or HHS – Department of Health and Human Services

DHHS is the foremost agency of the US government that is responsible for providing health and human services.

The US DOT follows HHS guidelines, so when changes are rolled out, HHS is first, and DOT follows.

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMSHA is a part of DHHS that deals with substance abuse and mental health issues and makes efforts to improve the behavioral health of America’s communities.

The agency provides accreditations to the laboratory performing urine testing.

If you read SAMHSA’s annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, you can easily see the connection between substance abuse and mental health.

CAP – College of American Pathologists

The CAP provides accreditation to the medical labs that perform drug tests on hair, urine and oral fluid for workplaces or any other non-medical firm.

CLIA – Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments

CLIA regulates laboratory testing and makes it mandatory for medical laboratories to get certification from their state and the CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for carrying out diagnostic testing.

AACC – American Association of Clinical Chemists
AACC is a worldwide scientific and medical professional association committed to medical laboratory discipline and its application to healthcare.

MRO – Medical Review Officer

A medical review officer is a certified physician who is responsible for analyzing the drug test results generated by the clinical laboratory. The MRO is the gatekeeper for the drug testing process.

CCF – Custody and Control Form

The CCF procedures are used to track the handling and storage of each urine sample during the testing process to maintain its integrity. Also known as a COC (Chain of Custody) form or simply “chain.”

eCCF – Electronic Custody And Control Form

These are a more advanced form of CCF that allows paperless CCF procedures. Its popularity is growing.

Immunoassay Based Test

This is the primary screening test to detect the presence of drugs in the sample. Generally referred to as a “screen” or “screening test.”

GC/MS Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Also referred to as “confirmation testing,” GC/MS testing is used if an Immunoassay test is non-negative.

If the primary test results positive for the presence of the drug. GC/MC is carried out to determine the type and amount of drug in the urine,

SVT – Specimen Validity Test

SVT is performed on a drug screen sample to determine substitution, adulteration, or dilution.

FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

FMCSA is a US DOT agency that regulates the truck and bus industry in the United States. This agency enforces safety regulations to minimize injuries, crashes, and deaths.

USCG – United States Coast Guard

It’s a unit of US Armed Forces that regulates maritime enforcement laws, maritime homeland security, search and rescue and ensures marine environment protection.

It also falls under the category of transportation, so generally falls in line with UD DOT guidelines for drug testing.

FAA – Federal Aviation Administration

A national authority that regulates all aspects of civil aviation including U.S. commercial space transportation, air navigation facilities and promotes transportation safety.

FTA – Federal Transit Administration

The Federal Transit Administration is a DOT agency in the United States that helps local public transportation systems technically and financially to develop and maintain the transit systems.

FRA – Federal Railroad Administration

An agency within the US Department of Transportation that administers railway safety regulations and creates funding and implements new rail technologies.

NRC -Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with protecting public health and safety related to nuclear energy.

PHMSAPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

The DOT agency that is responsible for developing and imposing principles for safe and eco-friendly pipeline transportation.

DFW – Drug-Free Workplace

The Drug-Free Workplace Program is a comprehensive program to help the employees in treatment and recovery from illicit drug use disorders. Many non-regulated employees value the safety, productivity and cultural advantages of maintaining a drug-free workplace.

SAP – Substance Abuse Professional

A SAP is a person authorized for examining the employee who has violated a DOT safety regulation program and recommend the testing and treatment procedures.

RTD – Return- To- Duty

The process an employee must go through after failing or refusing a drug or alcohol test. For DOT-regulated employees, this is a very specific process.