Drug & Alcohol Testing Programs

Employers and Drug Screening
Increasingly, employers are being asked to take an active role in efforts to reduce drug abuse. Employers have a vested interest in the issue since drug abuse in the workplace adversely affects safety and productivity. Many employers both in the public and private sectors, are turning to urine drug and breath alcohol testing as a means of reducing substance abuse in the workplace.

Urine drug testing, however, is only one component of an effective substance abuse program. A clearly written policy, appropriate specimen handling procedures, Medical Review Officer evaluation, and follow-up are also vitally important.

Our substance abuse programs include:

• Full disclosure to donors that their urine specimens will be tested for drugs, a chain-of-custody form which identifies the donor and all persons handling the specimen, any medication used by the donor, and the purpose of the specimen collection
• Analysis of specimens by a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)-certified laboratory
• Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry confirmation for specimens that are positive screening tests
• Review of positive tests by a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO) who explores alternative explanations for each positive drug test
• Referral to an employee assistance program for individuals that test positive

The Role of the MRO
The U.S. DHHS has defined the MRO as a "physician who is knowledgeable in the medical use of prescription drugs and the pharmacology and toxicology of illicit drugs." The MRO must also be thoroughly familiar with analytic procedures and with relevant drug and breath alcohol testing regulations.

Our MROs examine positive test results and chain-of-custody forms to verify that the testing procedures comply with mandatory guidelines. The MRO then discusses the results with the specimen donor, and reviews any relevant medical records. In addition, the MRO may seek clinical evidence of drug abuse (e.g. recent needle tracks). A review of laboratory procedures and a retest of the specimen may also be indicated.

Our MROs determine whether there is a legitimate reason to account for the positive test result. If not, the result is reported as positive. Medical information gathered in this process is held in confidence by the MRO, as in any physician-patient relationship.

WOHA – Employer Resource
WOHA has assisted employers in various industries with drug and alcohol abuse programs on a nationwide basis.

WOHA provides technical expertise in the development of program policies, collects specimens for clients in Washington, DC, and coordinates specimen collections nationwide for clients. WOHA’s physicians review all positive results in accordance with DHHS guidelines.

WOHA - MRO Specialists
ALL WOHA physicians are certified as MROs by the Medical Review Officer Certifying Council (MROCC).