DOT employers left hanging: Still no certified labs for saliva drug-testing
To the dismay and frustration of many DOT employers, this month’s Health and Human Services (HHS) list of certified drug-testing labs once again did not include any saliva-testing options.
DOT employers have been anxiously waiting six months for the green light to move forward with the testing method. They were given the option of using the new testing method effective June 1, 2023. However, they are unable to utilize the testing option until at least two labs are certified to process a testing kit.
A minimum of two certified labs are necessary in the event an employee wants to contest a result through an analysis of a split specimen at a different certified lab. During a saliva collection, a sample is split into two specimen containers in case the driver wants to test the secondary specimen. The same procedures have been used for decades during urine specimen collections.
For more insights into this evolving issue, check out the following resources within our Drug and Alcohol Testing – DOT topic:
- Split specimen procedures
- Prepare drivers now for DOT oral-fluid drug testing
- Prep your DOT program for new saliva-based drug tests
- Motor carriers might not use oral-fluid drug testing after all
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