Drug Testing Glossary

A

Aliquot

A fractional part of a specimen used for testing, taken as a sample representing the whole specimen (§40.3).

ASD — Alcohol Screening Device

A breath or saliva device, other than an EBT, approved by NHTSA and listed on ODAPC’s “Approved Screening Devices to Measure Alcohol in Bodily Fluids” page (§40.3). An ASD may be used for the screening test only; a confirmation test requires an EBT.

ATF — Alcohol Testing Form

The federal form used to document a DOT alcohol test, including the donor’s identity, the reason for the test, the screening and confirmation results, and the required signatures.

B

BAT — Breath Alcohol Technician

A person who instructs and assists employees in the alcohol testing process and operates an evidential breath testing device (§40.3). BATs must meet the qualification requirements of §40.213.

Bottle A / Bottle B

The two bottles used in a DOT split specimen collection — the primary specimen (Bottle A), which is tested, and the split specimen (Bottle B), which is held sealed in reserve (§40.3).

C

CCF — Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form

The OMB-approved federal form used to document a DOT drug collection and to record custody of the specimen from collection through laboratory testing and MRO review (§40.3). “Chain of custody form” is common shorthand, not the defined name.

C/TPA — Consortium/Third-Party Administrator

A service agent that provides or coordinates the provision of drug and alcohol testing services to employers (§40.3). The employer remains responsible for its testing program when using one.

CLIA — Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments

The federal framework (42 CFR Part 493) governing laboratory testing of human specimens. Whether a particular testing activity falls under CLIA depends on its purpose. DOT urine specimens are tested by HHS-certified laboratories under Part 40.

Collector

A person who instructs and assists employees at a collection site, who receives and makes an initial inspection of the specimen provided by those employees, and who initiates and completes the CCF (§40.3). Collectors must meet the applicable qualification requirements before conducting DOT collections.

Correctable Flaw

A specific defect listed in §40.203 that cancels a drug test only if it is not corrected. The list is closed — not every fixable paperwork problem is a correctable flaw. Compare fatal flaw (§40.199).

D

DER — Designated Employer Representative

An employee authorized by the employer to remove employees from safety-sensitive duties and to make required decisions in the testing and evaluation processes; the DER also receives test results and other communications for the employer (§40.3).

Directly Observed Urine Collection

A urine collection conducted under §40.67, in which an observer of the same gender as the employee directly watches the specimen pass from the employee’s body into the collection container. Part 40 specifies when direct observation is required. Compare monitored collection (§40.69).

DOT 5-Panel

The five drug classes tested in DOT urine drug testing: marijuana metabolites, cocaine metabolites, amphetamines, opioids, and phencyclidine (PCP). Cutoff concentrations are set at §40.85.

E

EBT — Evidential Breath Testing Device

A device approved by NHTSA for the evidential testing of breath at the .02 and .04 alcohol concentrations, and listed on ODAPC’s “Approved Evidential Breath Measurement Devices” page (§40.3). A DOT alcohol confirmation test must be conducted on an EBT. See device examples →

F

Fatal Flaw

A specimen or CCF problem listed in §40.199 that requires the MRO to cancel the drug test. The list is exclusive — a procedural error is not automatically a fatal flaw. Compare correctable flaw (§40.203).

FMCSA — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The DOT agency that regulates commercial truck and bus drivers. Its drug and alcohol testing rules are at 49 CFR Part 382, which applies to drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle in commerce in any State and are subject to the CDL requirements of Part 383 (§382.103(a)).

Follow-Up Testing

Unannounced testing conducted after the return-to-duty process, following the SAP’s follow-up testing plan and the applicable DOT agency regulation (§40.307).

M

Monitored Collection

A urine collection conducted under §40.69. It is required only where a multi-stall restroom is used and all sources of water and other substances that could be used to adulterate or substitute a specimen cannot be secured. A monitor does not watch the specimen leave the body — that is direct observation under §40.67.

MRO — Medical Review Officer

A licensed physician responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory results generated by an employer’s drug testing program and evaluating medical explanations for certain drug test results (§40.3).

P

Part 40 (49 CFR Part 40)

The federal regulation that establishes the procedures for DOT-regulated workplace drug and alcohol testing. The applicable DOT agency regulation determines who is covered and when testing is required.

POCT — Point-of-Care Testing (general term, not a DOT method)

A general industry term for a drug test performed and read at the collection site rather than at a laboratory — instant cups and rapid strips, for example. It is not a Part 40 testing method: DOT urine specimens must be tested by an HHS-certified laboratory.

R

Random Testing

Testing in which covered employees are selected using a scientifically valid random selection method under the applicable DOT agency regulation. Minimum annual random testing rates are set by each DOT agency and can change.

Refusal to Test

Conduct defined in §40.191 for drug tests, or §40.261 for alcohol tests, that can constitute a refusal. Both sections contain exceptions. The collector or BAT documents the conduct and notifies the DER; the employer makes the refusal determination.

S

SAMHSA — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The agency within HHS that administers the certification of laboratories permitted to test federal workplace specimens. Part 40 requires DOT urine specimens to be tested by an HHS-certified laboratory.

SAP — Substance Abuse Professional

A person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare (§40.3). The SAP prescribes a follow-up testing plan; the employer decides whether to return the employee to safety-sensitive duty and sets the actual dates (§40.307).

Shy Bladder

An insufficient urine specimen situation handled under §40.193. An insufficient specimen is not automatically a refusal — a required medical evaluation and the MRO determine the outcome.

Split Specimen

In drug testing, the specimen sent to a first laboratory and stored with its original seal intact, which is transported to a second laboratory for retesting at the employee’s request following MRO verification of the primary specimen as positive, adulterated or substituted (§40.3).

STT — Screening Test Technician

A person who instructs and assists employees in the alcohol testing process and operates an ASD (§40.3). An STT does not conduct alcohol confirmation tests.

T

TPA — Third-Party Administrator

Common shorthand. The term defined in Part 40 is C/TPA — Consortium/Third-Party Administrator. See that entry.

Regulatory reference. Where a definition on this page summarizes a regulatory term, the current text of 49 CFR Part 40 and the applicable DOT agency regulation control.