Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs-Authorized Testing Panels
Published Date: 1/16/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting July 7, 2025, federal workplaces will use updated drug testing panels for urine and oral fluid tests, with new names and rules for reporting results. This affects all federal agencies and labs doing drug tests, making sure everyone’s on the same page with what’s tested and how it’s reported. These changes keep drug testing clear, fair, and up-to-date without extra costs for agencies.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Fentanyl Added to Federal Panels
Starting July 7, 2025, HHS adds fentanyl to the urine and oral fluid Federal workplace drug testing panels. Until that date, fentanyl and/or norfentanyl can be analyzed only upon a Federal agency request for reasonable suspicion or post-accident testing or via a Secretary waiver.
Fentanyl/Norfentanyl Test Cutoffs Set
HHS sets specific cutoffs: for urine, an initial fentanyl cutoff of 1 ng/mL (initial immunoassay must show at least 5% cross-reactivity to norfentanyl) and confirmatory cutoffs of 1 ng/mL for both fentanyl and norfentanyl. For oral fluid (undiluted), the initial fentanyl cutoff is 4 ng/mL and the confirmatory cutoff is 1 ng/mL. These cutoffs apply starting July 7, 2025.
Laboratories and MROs Face Testing Costs
HHS says HHS-certified laboratories and Medical Review Officers (MROs) will incur initial administrative and programming costs to add fentanyl/norfentanyl testing. Estimated per-specimen costs: initial testing $0.23 to $5.00 and confirmatory testing $8.00 to $25.00; added cost per submitted Federal specimen is estimated at $0.0152 to $0.125, and total program costs for adding fentanyl are estimated from $9,317 to $194,750.
MDMA/MDA Will Remain Tested
HHS considered removing MDMA and MDA from the urine and oral fluid drug testing panels but decided not to remove them at this time and will continue to monitor prevalence and reassess in the future. MDMA and MDA therefore remain on the Federal testing panels effective July 7, 2025.
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