Department of Transportation Final Rule 5 Panel Notice

Here is the final rule from the Department of Transportation on the opioid changes and chain of custody modifications. If you have any questions please call me at 701-516-3850 or email me at ptesta@tctservicesllc.com.

DOT 5 Panel Notice

DOT Drug Testing: After January 1, 2018 – Still a 5-Panel The DOT testing at HHS-certified laboratories is a 5-panel drug test regimen.  As of January 1, 2018, the ‘Opiates’ category was renamed ‘Opioids’:

• Marijuana (THC)

• Cocaine

• Amphetamines

• Opioids

• Phencyclidine (PCP)

Under ‘Opioids’, previously ‘Opiates’, DOT testing will continue to include confirmatory testing, when appropriate, for Codeine, Morphine, and 6-AM (heroin).  We added initial and confirmatory testing for the semi-synthetic opioids Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, and Oxymorphone to this Opioids group.  Some brand names for the semi-synthetic opioids include OxyContin®, Percodan®, Percocet®, Vicodin®, Lortab®, Norco®, Dilaudid®, Exalgo®. Under Amphetamines, DOT testing includes confirmatory testing, when appropriate, for Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDMA, and MDA.  To this Amphetamines group, we added initial testing for MDA and removed testing for MDEA. Since January 1st, we have required confirmation testing for 14 drugs under a 5‑panel test.  Broken out, here is what DOT drug testing looks like:

• Marijuana (THC)

• Cocaine

• Amphetamines

1. Amphetamine

2. Methamphetamine

3. MDMA

4. MDA

• Opioids

1. Codeine

2. Morphine

3. 6-AM (heroin)

4. Hydrocodone

5. Hydromorphone

6. Oxycodone

7. Oxymorphone

• Phencyclidine (PCP)

For DOT testing, what does this mean for collectors, laboratories, MROs, and employers after January 1st ,2018?

• Collectors will continue to check the 5-panel box in Step 1 of the CCF: That is, the box specified for “THC, COC, PCP, OPI, AMP.”

• Laboratories will:

• continue to report to MROs the specific drugs / drug metabolites they confirm as positive, and laboratories will add hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone confirmed positives, as appropriate.

• on their semi-annual reports to DOT and their semi-annual reports to employers add: hydrocodone; hydromorphone; oxycodone; and oxymorphone confirmed positive totals, as appropriate, under Opioids.

• MROs will continue to report to employers the specific drugs / drug metabolite they verify as positive; and MROs will add hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone verified positives, as appropriate.

• Employers will continue to provide – on their annual MIS reports – the number of verified positive drug test results in each testing category (i.e., Marijuana, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Opioids, and PCP).