In The News
DOT sends reminder about drug testing changes
The U.S. Department of Transportation sent out a notice today saying that despite changes to its drug testing rules, there is still a five-panel test required.
All drug tests come in the form of panels, where each panel is a drug being tested. For example, a five-panel drug test checks for five drugs, while a 10-panel drug screen checks for 10 drugs.
A standard five-panel drug urine test is the test most frequently used by government agencies and private employers. It typically tests for commonly abused substances such as THC, opiates, PCP, cocaine, and amphetamines.
What were once opiates are now classified as opioids.
Added to the group are the semi-synthetic opioids hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone and oxymorphone, which go under the brand names Oxycontin, Percodan, Vicodin, Lortab, Norco, Dilaudid and Exalgo.
Under the amphetamines group, testing is for amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine or (MDMA), and MDA, a phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drug.
MDMA is a derivative of amphetamine and a member of the phenethylamine family of chemicals that may act as stimulants, hallucinogens, and/or entactogens. Ecstasy is often used to refer to MDMA in the tablet or capsule form, which is the most common way people take the drug.
Since January 1, DOT has required testing for 14 drugs under a five-panel test.
- Marijuana or THC
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
- Amphetamine
- Methamphetamine
- MDMA
- MDA
- Opioids
- Codeine
- Morphine
- 6-AM (heroin)
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone, and
- Phenyclidine (PCP)
DOT said collectors will continue to check the five-panel box specified for THC, COC, PCP OPI or AMP.
Labs will continue to report to Medical Review Officers (MROs) the specific drugs and drug metabolites they confirm as positive and the labs will add hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone confirmed positives, as appropriate.
On labs’ semi-annual reports to DOT and employers they will add hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone and oxymorphone confirmed positive totals as appropriate under opioids.
MROs will continue to report to employers the specific drugs/drug metabolites they verify as positive and will add hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone and oxymorphone positives as well.
On their Management Information Systems or MIS reports, employers must continue to provide the number of verified positive drug test results in each testing category (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, PCP).