The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently published a final rule that, among other things, allows employers to use oral fluid drug testing as an alternative to urine drug testing for all required DOT tests. According to DOT, “This additional methodology for drug testing will give employers a choice that will help combat employee cheating on urine drug tests and provide a less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the program.”
Employers mandated by DOT will have the ability to adopt oral fluid testing for ALL required tests; only certain applications (e.g., pre-employment, post-accident, random), or not at all. It’s up to you!
Does this mean you can start using oral fluid testing now?
Not quite. Even though the rule goes into effect this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) must first certify at least two (2) laboratories to do the testing, and industry experts estimate that will take an additional 6-12 months.
In the meantime, employers, keep learning all you can about this methodology of testing so you’ll be ready to make decisions when the system is up and running.
Working Partners® Consortium members will receive lots of education and consultation to help with those decisions. If you decide to make the switch, we’ll be ready to adjust your policy and connect you to drug testing vendors that will make oral fluid testing not only convenient and accurate, but affordable!
