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

for the preceding 6 months ending on
December 31 and July 20 for the preceding
6 months ending on June 30.
Employers or C/TPAs that have fewer
than 2000 DOT-covered employees are not
required to perform blind specimen testing.
Section 4. MEDICAL REVIEW
OFFICER
The FTA regulation requires that all
drug testing laboratory results must be
reviewed by a qualified MRO. The purpose
of this review is to verify and validate test
results.
An MRO is defined in the regulation as a
licensed physician responsible for receiving
and reviewing laboratory results generated
by an employer’s drug testing program and
evaluating medical explanations for certain
drug test results. The MRO must be
knowledgeable about and have clinical
experience in controlled substance abuse
disorders. The MRO must have the
appropriate medical training to interpret and
evaluate laboratory confirmed positive test
results and be knowledgeable about
alternative medical explanations for
laboratory confirmed test results. The MRO
must be aware of issues relating to
adulterated and substituted specimens and
possible medical causes for invalid test
results.
As discussed in Chapter 5, MROs must
know the DOT MRO Guidelines, Part 40
and applicable DOT agency rules (i.e., FTA
Part 655). MROs must receive qualification
training and complete at least 12 hours of
professional development hours of
continuing education that is relevant to
MRO functions during each subsequent 3year
period.
The MRO is to serve as an independent,
impartial gatekeeper responsible for the
accuracy and integrity of the drug testing
process. As such, the MRO is required to
perform the following functions (§40.123):
• Receive the results of drug tests from
the laboratory.
• Conduct administrative review of the
CCF to ensure it is legible, accurate,
and signed by the laboratory’s
certifying scientist. Check for fatal
and correctable flaws. Take action
to immediately correct correctable
flaws. If appropriate, the MRO may
request the laboratory to analyze the
original specimen again to verify the
accuracy of the reported test result.
• Provide feedback as appropriate to
the DER and service agents
regarding performance issues.
Report major problems to the
ODAPC and FTA as appropriate.
• The MRO or his/her staff must make
at least three attempts to contact the
employee spaced reasonably over a
24-hour period, including the day
and evening using the telephone
numbers listed on the CCF. All
Chapter 7. Drug Testing Procedures 7-17 August 2002