We recently administered a DOT drug test on a CDL Truck Driver. The lab reported the specimen positive for Cocaine. As is required by regulation, during the interview with the employee, Dr. Doncer, our MRO, explained the challenge process to the donor.

Employees who fall under DOT are allowed to challenge the drug test. When we collect urine for a DOT test we must collect 2 separate vials, an “A” & a “B” vial. The B vial is kept by the laboratory for one year, the challenge consists of the “B” specimen (same urine) to be sent to a separate laboratory for confirmation. It is the donors’ right to challenge the test if they choose, and we must accept a verbal request.

The cost of sending the B specimen can be expensive, we charge $200. The DOT regulation does not dictate who pays this fee, only if the donor requests a challenge the MRO must order it. Per our protocols we always charge the Employer the fee.

Shortly after the phone interview with Dr. Doncer, the wife of the driver called our office and asked that the test be challenged, we explained we would have to hear that from the donor directly, so she summoned him to the phone to confirm.

The “B” specimen was sent to another lab and about a week later it was also confirmed positive for cocaine. In 15 years, and after hundreds of challenged tests, we have only had one sample that failed to re-confirm.

A few days after we re-confirmed the first labs findings to the employer the donor called us cursing and upset because the employer had deducted the $200 fee from his final paycheck. The donor claimed he never gave us permission to have the “B” specimen tested. We tried to reason with the donor and the donor’s wife who were rude, belligerent, and downright nasty, it was so bad we finally had to block their number.

First Choice Drug Testing keeps the employers, who bless us with their business, compliant by following and educating them on the myriads of regulations. Does your drug testing vendor provide that level of service?