Agenda - Council - 01/09/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I ! I I I I I ,I I I I I I I I I I I E) F) o) i) If the .test result of the primary specimen is positive, the employee may request that the MRO direct that the split specimen be tested in a different DHHS- certified laboratory for presence of the drag(s) for which a confirmed positive resultwas obtained in the test of the primary specimen. The MRO shall honor such a request if it is made within 72 hours of the driver having been notified of a verified positive test result. When. the MRO informs the laboratory in writing that the employee has requested a test of the split specimen, the laboratory shall forward, to a different DHHS- approved laboratory, the split specimen bottle, with seal intact, a copy of the MRO request, and the split specimen copy of the chain-of-custody entries. The result of the test of the split specimen is transmitted by the second laborato.ry to the MRO. Action required by the regulations as the result of a positive drug test (e.g. removal from performing a safety-sensitive function) is not stayed pending the result ~of the test of the split specimen. If the result of the test of the split specimen fails to reconfn'rn the presence of the drag(s) or drag metabolite(s) found in the primary specimen, the MRO shall cancel the test, and report the cancellation and the reasons for it to the DOT, the City, and the driver. If the result of the primary specimen is positive, the laboratory shall retain the split specimen in frozen storage for 60 days from the date on which the laboratory acquires it. Following the end of the 60-day period, if not informed by the MRO that &e employee has requested a test of the split specimen, the laboratory may discard the split specimen. When directed in writing by the MRO to forward the split specimen to another DHH$-certified laboratory for analysis, the second laboratory shall analyze the split specimen by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry to reconfirm the presence of the drag(s) or drug metabolite(s) found in the primary specimen. The split specimen shall be retained in long-term storage for one year by the laboratory conducting the analysis of the split specimen. Reporting and Review of Results for Controlled Substance Testing A) Confirmation Retest. The MRO shall notify each driver who has a confzrrned positive test that the employee has 72 hours in which to request a test of the split specimen of the test if verified as positive. The driver is responsible for all costs associated with the confirmatory retest unless results are negative. If the driver requests an analysis of the split specimen with 72 hours of having been informed of a verified positive test, the MRO shall direct, in writing the laboratory to provide the split specimen to another DHHS-certified laboratory for analysis. If the analysis of the split specimen fails to reconfirm the presence of the drug(s) or metabolite(s) found in the primary specimen, or if the split specimen is unavailable, inadequate for testing or untestable, the MRO shall cancel the test and report cancellation and the reasons for it to the DOT, the City, and the driver. I2