The Department of Transportation is proposing to add four opioids to its drug-testing panel for commercial drivers, as well as clarify urine specimen rules.
The Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that was published in the Federal Register on Monday adds to the drug-testing panel hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone and oxycodone, all of which are Schedule II narcotics under the Controlled Substances Act. The NPRM also removes methyl enedioxyethyl amphetamine as a confirmatory test analyte and adds methyl enedioxy amphetamine as an initial test analyte.
The revisions, which would go into effect on Oct. 1 of this year, match new revised Mandatory Guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for federal drug-testing programs for urine testing.
Additionally, the DOT seeks to clarify existing provisions on handling of urine specimens in Part 40 of Title 49, the required procedures for conducting workplace drug and alcohol testing for transportation workers. The NPRM reiterates that only urine specimens screened and confirmed at HHS certified laboratories are currently authorized to be used for drug testing. Based on a focused analysis of historical drug-testing program data, the NPRM also would remove blind-specimen testing requirements because it is “cost-beneficial.”
The NPRM also would emphasize a prohibition on DNA testing of urine specimens.
