HHS/DOT mandatory guidelines & panel changes

On October 1, 2010, the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) new Mandatory Guidelines, and corresponding Department of Transportation (DOT) 49 CFR Part 40 Rules will take affect. With this change, MDMA (Ecstasy) and 6-Acetylmorphine (Heroin-specific metabolite) will become required screens in regulated panels. Additionally, the screening and confirmation cutoffs for cocaine and amphetamines will be lowered.

As a direct result of these requirements, the cost of testing, equipment and other critical components necessary to process and perform this testing are increasing. While our ability to leverage economies-of-scale in purchasing will help mitigate the impact of some of these increased costs, pricing for panels which incorporate these changes will increase slightly.

When the HHS Mandatory Guidelines take affect, we will implement the following panel changes:

  • HHS/DOT covered panels – test panels will automatically transfer to the new HHS/DOT panel on October 1, 2010 and pricing increases will take affect on November 1, 2010.
  • Non-Federally mandated, 5-panel drug testing – test panels will NOT change unless you request it. If you wish to incorporate these changes into your current panels, please contact the National Customer Support Center at (800) 877-7484.

For more information about drug testing, visit our website.

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