DOT Changes for 2018

 
Effective January 1st, the Department of Transportation is amending its drug testing program regulation to add hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone to its drug-testing panel; add methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) as an initial test analyte; and remove methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) as a confirmatory test analyte.

New DOT drug test panel is still a 5-Panel Test.

The four semi-synthetic opioids (hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone) being added to the DOT panel are all a part of the Opiate drug family. Some common names for these semi-synthetic opioids include OxyContin�, Percodan�, Percocet�, Vicodin�, Lortab�, Norco�, Dilaudid�, Exalgo�. The Opiate drug, including codeine, morphine and heroin, has been a part of the five drugs on the DOT testing panel since inception. DOT is simply expanding the testing for 4 more types or iterations of the Opiate drug.

Similarly, the removal of MDEA and addition of MDA are a part of the Amphetamine family of drugs. Thus, the new DOT panel is still considered to be a 5-panel drug screen.

Employers must inform employees of these changes.

All affected employees need to be aware of these changes to your DOT and (if applicable) Non-DOT testing program. It is advised that each employer provide a written notice of these changes to your employee and to document the notification.

New DOT plan expected in early 2018.

NCMS is currently working on making the applicable revisions to the NCMS DOT/PHMSA model plan. This new plan will be available to contractors, monitored by NCMS, in the first quarter of 2018. Notifications will be sent out at that time.

DOT Drug Changes for Jan 1st, 2018

1 For grouped analytes (i.e., two or more analytes that are in the same drug class and have the same initial test cutoff):

Immunoassay: The test must be calibrated with one analyte from the group identified as the target analyte. The cross-reactivity of the immunoassay to the other analyte(s) within the group must be 80 percent or greater; if not, separate immunoassays must be used for the analytes within the group.

Alternate technology: Either one analyte or all analytes from the group must be used for calibration, depending on the technology. At least one analyte within the group must have a concentration equal to or greater than the initial test cutoff or, alternatively, the sum of the analytes present (i.e., equal to or greater than the laboratory�s validated limit of quantification) must be equal to or greater than the initial test cutoff.

2 An immunoassay must be calibrated with the target analyte, D-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCA).

3 Alternate technology (THCA and Benzoylecgonine): When using an alternate technology initial test for the specific target analytes of THCA and Benzoylecgonine, the laboratory must use the same cutoff for the initial and confirmatory tests (i.e., 15 ng/mL for THCA and 100ng/mL for Benzoylecgonine).

4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

5 Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA).

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