Implementation Guidelines - Federal Transit Administration - U.S. ...

Recommendation
Multiple Collection Sites
Many transit systems have found that one
collection site is not enough to meet the total
testing requirements for their agency.
Employers have often found that collection
sites have limited hours of operation and
therefore cannot conduct tests during all days
and times that safety-sensitive functions are
being performed. In response, agencies have
contracted with secondary collection sites to
supplement the primary collection site.
Sometimes, the supplemental sites are
hospitals or clinics that have extended work
hours or are willing to provide services on an
on-call basis. Other systems have contracted
with off-duty nurses or other medical
personnel to conduct after-hour collections on
transit system premises.
Some transit systems may wish to
establish collection sites on their own
premises. On-premise collection sites may
also be used during times when commercial
or third party sites are unavailable (e.g.,
nights, weekends, holidays).
Regardless of where the collection site is
located, it must meet Department of
Transportation guidelines established in
“Procedures for Transportation Workplace
Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs” (49
CFR Part 40, Subpart D). The regulation
(§40.41) requires, in part, that the collection
site provide all necessary personnel,
materials, equipment, facilities, and storage
space necessary to conduct the test
consistent with the regulations. At a
minimum, the site must provide a privacy
enclosure for urination (preferably a singletoilet
room having a full-length privacy
door), a suitable clean writing surface, and a
water source for hand washing, which if
practicable, should be outside the privacy
enclosure. If a water source is present inside
the privacy enclosure, that water source as
well as other substances that could be used
for adulteration and substitution (e.g., water
faucets, soap dispensers) must be secured,
and moist towelettes must be provided for
hand washing outside the privacy enclosure.
No one but the donor may be present in the
privacy enclosure during the collection,
except for the observer in the event of a
directly observed collection.
If a multi-stall restroom facility is used,
the site must provide substantial visual
privacy such as a partial-length door, all
water sources in the restroom must be
secured, and bluing agent must be added to
the other toilets, or they must be secured to
prevent access. Additionally, a multi-stall
facility requires that a person of the same
gender or a medical professional monitor the
collection. The monitor enters the room
with the donor, but remains outside the stall
and does not watch the employee urinate
into the collection cup (§40.69). A multistall
collection is the only time a monitor is
permitted. A monitored collection is
significantly different from an observed
collection, which is discussed later in this
chapter.
Collection site operators must take
necessary steps to prevent unauthorized
access to the collection facility that could
compromise a collection’s integrity. Access
to the site must be restricted during
specimen collection to ensure privacy and
prevent the collector from becoming
distracted. Limited access signs must be
posted. Additionally, access to collection
materials and specimens must be restricted.
Only specimen donors, collectors, other
collection site workers, DERs, employee
and employer representatives, and DOT
agency representatives are authorized to
enter any part of the site in which urine
specimens are collected or stored. The
collection site must have a policy and
procedures in place to prevent anyone else
from entering the collection area. All
Chapter 7. Drug Testing Procedures 7-3 August 2002