DOT adds four opioids to drug testing rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on November 13 issued a final rule that expands the department’s current drug testing panel for regulated industries, including safety-sensitive positions at motor carriers, to include four semi-synthetic opioids: Hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone. The rule takes effect January 1, 2018.

Other changes in the rule include adding methylenedioxyamphetamine as an initial test analyte and removing it as a confirmatory test analyte. The revision of the drug-testing panel harmonizes DOT regulations with the revised HHS Mandatory Guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for federal drug-testing programs for urine testing. The final rule also clarifies certain existing drug-testing program provisions and definitions, makes technical amendments, and removes the requirement for employers and consortium/third party administrators to submit blind specimens.