A proposal to allow federal agencies to use sweat, saliva and hair in controlled substance testing of government workers may ultimately affect truck drivers.

The change, proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, wouldn’t automatically alter rules for transportation workers but the Department of Transportation says there is a close relationship between the two programs.
DOT drug testing rules, first issued in 1988, were based on HHS guidelines. The Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act, passed by Congress in 1991, requires DOT to "incorporate" HHS guidelines and amendments into DOT testing procedures. Thus, says DOT, any changes to HHS rules will have to be considered by DOT.
If the proposed changes are adopted, federal agencies would have the option to stay with urine tests for controlled substances, but could also choose sweat, saliva and hair tests. The new rule would also establish criteria for test facilities that would only perform initial tests and not confirmed tests.
The changes, explained HHS, would shorten the time necessary to get negative results. Positive results in initial testing would still have to be confirmed by a certified laboratory. The proposal addresses point of collection tests or on-site testing kits as well as people who do the testing. As now, split samples would be required so that persons tested could request an immediate double-check if a specimen comes back positive for drugs.
Additional information can be found on the web site of HHS‚ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, www.smahsa.gov .
Look for "updates for drug testing" under Hot Topics. Comments to the proposal are due July 12.