A DOT drug test follows a panel the regulation sets. The drugs tested for and the cutoff concentrations are set by 49 CFR 40.85 and 40.87, the procedure by the rest of Part 40, and they apply the same way to every covered employer in the country. 49 CFR 40.13 bars any additional test on a DOT specimen. This guide explains what the federal panel covers, why an employer cannot add to or subtract from it on a DOT test, and where a company-policy non-DOT program gives you room to design your own panel.
The short version
- The DOT panel and its cutoffs are fixed by federal regulation
- An employer cannot change a DOT panel or test a DOT specimen for anything else, but can design a non-DOT panel by policy
- Non-negative results go to MRO verification before they mean anything
- Understanding the panel prevents the most common employer misunderstandings