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This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of MROs within Federally Regulated (DOT 49 CFR Part 40) and non-regulated drug testing programs.
In order to help ensure a level of standards, the DOT requires that all Medical Review Officers who evaluate federally-mandated drug test results attend an initial training course which provides 12 Category 1 CME credit hours and, subsequently, that these MROs be certified through a written examination. Beyond the initial training and certification, MROs are required to obtain 12 additional Category 1 CME credit hours of MRO updating every three years. The Medical Review Officer Certification Council requires MROs to verify evidence of having completed 12 CME credit hours of MRO updating during the 36 months preceding the MROCC reexamination as part of its application prerequisite to sit for the Recertification examination.
MONOGRAPH LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to: § Outline the collection process of a urine specimen. § Identify and solve problems that may arise during collection of a drug test specimen. § Explain to the employees, employers and others who may present with questions about the collection procedures. |
The MRO reviews drug testing documents for possible errors; interviews donors who have positive, adulterated, substituted and invalid results and determines if they have alternative medical explanations for their results; and provides feedback to employers, collection sites, laboratories, and federal agency representatives regarding performance problems if necessary. MROs also protect their companies acting as valuable resources: they help with policies and with regulatory issues, as well as provide related services like drug test collections, breath alcohol testing, coordination of laboratory services, supervision of laboratory performance tests, and preparation of summary reports for employers.
The procedures for collection of workplace drug test specimens are specific and must be followed. Collection procedures maintain a balance between evidential standards and individual privacy rights. MROs are responsible for reviewing the chain of custody documentation from the collection procedures, and obtaining corrective statements from collectors when needed. They need to understand the collection process and recognize when errors have occurred. When errors occur, they usually occur during the collection procedure. The MRO must be familiar with collection procedures so that he can perform well in this vital quality assurance process. Most clinics that collect drug test specimens look to the MROs to provide leadership and training for those performing the collections. When tests are challenged in court, MROs are asked to testify as to the adequacy of the collection process. |
