Washington — Although oral fluid drug testing has been federally authorised for truck drivers and employees in safety-sensitive transportation positions, its use as a substitute for urine testing has been delayed and stays in flux.
A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration official on July 29 informed Safety+Health that the company is contemplating purposes filed this spring by three laboratories for certification in oral fluid testing, a benchmark for implementing employer testing.
A current Department of Transportation ultimate rule authorised oral fluid drug testing in its place for employees regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration.
For employers to enact oral fluid testing, nevertheless, HHS should certify a minimum of two laboratories.
“There are currently no laboratories certified to conduct oral fluid drug testing,” the SAMHSA official stated, including that the certification course of is ongoing and usually takes three to 6 months from the receipt of utility.
In the ultimate rule, DOT says oral fluid testing “will give employers a choice that will help combat employee cheating on urine drug tests and provide a less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals” of the division’s drug and alcohol testing program.
On June 21, DOT revealed a direct ultimate rule that might have revised the 2023 rule by:
- Providing momentary qualification necessities for mock oral fluid screens.
- Providing for constant privateness necessities by figuring out which people could also be current throughout an oral fluid assortment.
- Clarifying how collectors are to specify that a enough quantity of oral fluid was collected.
The rule was set to enter impact Aug. 5, however the company withdrew it on Aug. 1, citing, antagonistic remark from stakeholders.
One such piece of suggestions, from the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association, states that “delaying collector training until after laboratories are HHS-certified will cause small businesses that have met the train-the-trainer course requirements to suffer the loss of training revenue.”
The affiliation continues, “It also will create a shortage of properly trained and qualified oral fluid collectors from being able to collect specimens for possibly months after the first laboratories are certified.”
FMCSA now will think about feedback by means of a parallel proposed rule – additionally revealed June 21.
“The proposed rule invited comment on the substance of these rule changes,” the company says. “DOT will respond to comments as part of any final action taken on the parallel proposed rule.”
