ASD - Alcohol Screening Device: A breath or saliva device used for breath alcohol testing.
Adulterated Specimen: A specimen that has been altered, by either a substance that is not a normal constituent for that type of specimen or showing an abnormal concentration of an endogenous substance.
BAT – Breath Alcohol Technician: A person who instructs and assists employees in the alcohol testing process and operates an evidential breath testing (EBT) device.
Canceled Test: A drug or alcohol test that has a problem identified that cannot be or has not been corrected or otherwise requires to be canceled. A canceled test is neither a positive nor a negative test.
CCF - Custody & Control Form: Procedure used to document the handling of the urine specimen from the point of collection until the specimen is destroyed. Also referred to as the COC or Chain of Custody form.
CDL – Commercial Drivers’ License: State issued license required by anyone operating a vehicle over 26,001 lbs., placarded to haul hazardous materials regardless of weight, or designed to haul 16 or more passengers including the driver.
Confirmatory Drug Test: A second analytical procedure performed on a different aliquot of the original specimen to identify and quantify the presence of a specific drug or drug metabolite.
CRL – Clinical Reference Laboratory: Certified laboratory used by PTC for testing DOT and Non-DOT urine samples. crlcorp.com
C/TPA – Consortium / Third Party Administrator: A company that provides services regarding a substance abuse program on behalf of its clients. A consortium is a grouping of employees from different employers pooled together for the purpose of random testing.
DER – Designated Employer Representative: An employee authorized by the employer to take immediate action(s) to remove employees from safety-sensitive duties, or cause employees to be removed from these covered duties, and to make required decisions in the testing and evaluation processes. The DER also receives test results and other communications for the employer. Service agents cannot act as DERs.
DOT – Department of Transportation: Agency that regulates the drug and alcohol programs for companies operating in the transportation industries. Includes FAA, FRA, FTA, FMCSA, PHMSA and USCG. All DOT drug and alcohol testing programs are based upon 49 CFR Part 40.
EAP – Employee Assistance Program: A program providing educational materials and training regarding a company’s substance abuse and other programs. Can provide assistance with substance abuse rehabilitation and counseling.
EBT – Evidential Breath Test: A device approved by NHTSA for the evidential testing of breath at the .02 and .04 alcohol concentrations.
eCCF – Electronic Custody and Control Form: A form documenting the handling of the urine specimen from the point of collection until the specimen is destroyed.
Employee: Any person who is designated in a DOT agency regulation as subject to drug testing and/or alcohol testing. The term includes individuals currently performing safety-sensitive functions and applicants subject to pre-employment testing.
Employer: A person or entity employing one or more employees (including an individual who is self-employed) subject to DOT agency regulations. The term includes an employer's officers, representatives, and management personnel. Service agents are not employers for the purposes of this part.
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration: DOT agency regulating employers and employees in the aviation industry. §14 CFR Part 120
FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: DOT agency regulating carriers and commercial driver’s license holders (CDL). §49 CFR Part 382
FRA – Federal Railroad Administration: DOT agency regulating employers and employees working in the railroad industry. §49 CFR Part 219
HHS – Health and Human Services: Department that determines the substances tested for and their cutoff levels for Federally Mandated drug testing programs. DOT voluntarily follows HHS guidelines.
Invalid Drug Test: The result reported when a positive, negative, adulterated, or substituted result cannot be established for a specific drug or specimen validity test.
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.
Negative Result: The result reported when a specimen contains no drug, or the concentration of the drug is less than the cutoff concentration for the drug or drug class.
NHTSA – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Government administration approving the use of certain ASD and EBT devices for breath alcohol testing. nhtsa.gov
ODAPC – Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance: Advises the Secretary of Transportation on national and international drug testing and control issues and is the principal advisor on rules related to the drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive transportation employees. transportation.gov/odapc
PHMSA – Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration: DOT agency regulating employers and employees working in the pipeline industry. §49 CFR Part 199
Positive Result: The result reported by an HHS-certified laboratory when a specimen contains a drug or drug metabolite equal to or greater than the cutoff concentrations.
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. May also apply to employees who self-identify for substance abuse and non-DOT employees under company authority.
SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Government agency that approves the laboratories that can conduct testing on Federally Mandated urine samples for drug programs. samhsa.gov
Screening Drug Test: The test used to differentiate a negative specimen from one that requires further testing for drugs or drug metabolites.
STT – Screening Test Technician: Person who performs breath alcohol tests using an ASD.
Substituted Specimen: A urine specimen with creatinine and specific gravity values that are so diminished or so divergent that they are not consistent with normal human urine.
USCG – United States Coast Guard: Mode of transportation (now part of the Department of Homeland Security) regulating employers and employees operating commercial vessels. §46 CFR Part 16; §46 CFR Part 4
Verified Test: A drug test result or validity testing result that has undergone review and final determination by the MRO.