Donor Interview & Verification Flashcards

Which of the following substances detected on a DOT drug test could result in a verified negative if the donor presents a valid current prescription?

Answer: Amphetamine

Amphetamines have legitimate prescription uses (e.g., Adderall, Vyvanse) and a valid prescription can support a verified negative report; cocaine, PCP, and marijuana metabolites have no accepted prescription context in DOT federal testing.

Under DOT regulations, when a donor claims a prescription during the MRO interview but cannot immediately produce documentation, the MRO should:

Answer: Allow a reasonable time (up to 5 business days) for the donor to provide documentation while independently verifying

Per 49 CFR §40.135, the MRO must allow the employee a reasonable opportunity to provide documentation and can also independently verify the prescription with the prescriber or pharmacy.

A donor's specimen tests positive for opiates. The donor claims to have eaten a large amount of poppy seeds before the test. How should the MRO respond?

Answer: Evaluate whether the specific morphine concentration is consistent with poppy seed ingestion at the DOT cutoff level

At the DOT morphine cutoff of 2,000 ng/mL, normal poppy seed ingestion typically cannot produce concentrations at this level, so the MRO must evaluate the specific concentration against the claimed explanation.

A donor presents a valid medical marijuana card issued by their state to explain a positive THC result on a DOT drug test. The MRO must:

Answer: Report a verified positive since federal DOT regulations do not recognize marijuana as having accepted medical use

Under federal DOT regulations, marijuana has no accepted medical use regardless of state law; the MRO must report a verified positive even when the donor holds a valid state-issued medical marijuana card.

During verification of a positive opiate result, the donor reveals a valid prescription for oxycodone for chronic pain. What additional determination must the MRO make?

Answer: Whether the prescribing physician has determined the employee is medically qualified to perform safety-sensitive duties while taking the medication

The MRO must verify not only that the prescription is valid but also whether the treating physician has cleared the employee to safely perform safety-sensitive functions while on the medication.

A donor claims that an over-the-counter (OTC) cold medication explains their positive amphetamine result. The MRO should:

Answer: Evaluate whether the OTC medication's active ingredient could pharmacologically explain the positive result at the detected concentration

The MRO must evaluate OTC medication claims by assessing whether the medication's active ingredients could plausibly produce the positive result at the concentration detected by the laboratory.

When reporting a verified positive result to the employer's DER, which of the following should the MRO generally NOT disclose?

Answer: The specific numerical concentration of the substance detected

The MRO reports the drug identified and the verified result to the employer but does not typically disclose the specific numerical concentration, which is medical information beyond what the employer needs to know.