In response to America’s ongoing opioid crisis, the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) ruled on November 9 to include opioids in its drug testing program. The measure will go into effect on January 1, 2018.
Methylenedioxyamphetamine has been added as an initial test analyte, and methylenedioxyethylamphetamine has been removed as a confirmatory test analyte. Additionally, the DOT drug testing program has expanded to include four semi-synthetic opioids:
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Oxymorphone
- Oxycodone
The inclusion of semi-synthetic opioids ensures consistency as required by federal guidelines, OTETA, and applies across both specimen testing validity and initial and confirmatory testing values. The updates are also in line with the US Department of Health and Human Services guidelines that were revised earlier this year.
The November 9 ruling also provides clarity around current drug testing program provisions and amendments, and removes the blind specimen requirement for employers and Consortium/Third Party Administrators (TPAs).