Effective January 1, 2018, the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) is amending its drug testing program regulation to include detection for four opioids: hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone. Methylenedioxyamphetamine has also been added as an initial test analyte and methylenedioxyethylamphetamine has been removed as a confirmatory test analyte.

Federally Regulated DOT Drug Test Programs Mandated changes apply to all federally regulated DOT drug test programs. The regulations now harmonize testing with the Department of Health and Human Services Mandatory Guidelines that were revised earlier this year.

In addition to changes to the DOT urine drug testing panel, the ruling clarifies existing drug testing program provisions, definitions, and technical amendments. The addition of hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone to the drug panel is in response to the current opioid crisis.

Some common names for these semi-synthetic opioids include OxyContin®, Opana®, Percodan®, Percocet®, Vicodin®, Lortab®, Norco®, Dilaudid®, and Exalgo®.

Contact Joe Clark or Joe Evans at (409) 212-9706 to get more information on what this ruling means for employees, employers, and C/TPAs.