DOT Revises Oral Drug Testing Rule

Regulators have amended a rule they previously withdrew on testing oral fluid for drugs or alcohol. 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) revived and altered the regulations in a notice published Nov. 5 in the Federal Register.  

The original 2023 rule received several negative comments, which led to its withdrawal in early August. 

The updated final rule answers the following concerns raised by commenters: “provide temporary qualification requirements for mock oral fluid monitors, provide for consistent requirements by identifying which individuals may be present during an oral fluid collection and clarify how collectors are to document that a sufficient volume of oral fluid was collected.” 

However, oral fluid testing can’t happen until the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services certifies laboratories to run those tests. As of the rule’s publication, none have been certified.