The Department of Transportation is proposing to amend certain provisions of its drug testing procedures, to create consistency with new requirements established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Mandatory Guidelines.


The proposed changes deal with laboratory testing of urine specimens. Some of the proposed changes will also affect the roles and standards applying to collectors and Medical Review Officers. DOT is required by the Omnibus Transportation Employees Testing Act to follow the HHS requirements for the testing procedures/protocols and drugs that are tested for.

Primary laboratory proposals include:

* Testing for MDMA (aka Ecstasy);

* Lowering cutoff levels for cocaine and amphetamines;

* Conducting mandatory initial testing for heroin; and

* Authorizing employers to use HHS-Certified Instrumented Initial Test Facilities to conduct initial drug testing.

The proposal also would bring a number of our testing definitions in-line with those of HHS.

You can read the entire Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register.