PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The FAA Administrator must make rules for how drug and alcohol specimens are collected, tested, and handled for safety programs. The rules must protect individual privacy as much as possible and must follow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services scientific guidelines dated April 11, 1988, and any updates. Those guidelines must cover things like using the best available test technology, strict chain-of-custody rules, a minimum list of drugs to test for, and how labs are reviewed, certified, or decertified. Laboratories must be able to do both screening and confirmation tests at their facility. Any positive test for alcohol or drugs must be confirmed by a scientific test that gives a measured amount. Each specimen must be split, labeled, and kept secure in front of the person tested, and a portion must be saved so the person can ask for a second, independent confirmation at another certified lab within 3 days of being told the first confirmation result. Rules must also protect breath, urine, and blood testing methods (with HHS input), keep test and medical records confidential except for alcohol/drug info needed for discipline, and make sure testing is done fairly so no one is singled out or harassed.

Title 49, §45104

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In carrying out section 45102 of this title, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall develop requirements that—

(1)promote, to the maximum extent practicable, individual privacy in the collection of specimens;

(2)for laboratories and testing procedures for controlled substances, incorporate the Department of Health and Human Services scientific and technical guidelines dated April 11, 1988, and any amendments to those guidelines, including mandatory guidelines establishing—

(A)comprehensive standards for every aspect of laboratory controlled substances testing and laboratory procedures to be applied in carrying out this chapter, including standards requiring the use of the best available technology to ensure the complete reliability and accuracy of controlled substances tests and strict procedures governing the chain of custody of specimens collected for controlled substances testing;

(B)the minimum list of controlled substances for which individuals may be tested; and

(C)appropriate standards and procedures for periodic review of laboratories and criteria for certification and revocation of certification of laboratories to perform controlled substances testing in carrying out this chapter;

(3)require that a laboratory involved in controlled substances testing under this chapter have the capability and facility, at the laboratory, of performing screening and confirmation tests;

(4)provide that all tests indicating the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a United States Government regulation be confirmed by a scientifically recognized method of testing capable of providing quantitative information about alcohol or a controlled substance;

(5)provide that each specimen be subdivided, secured, and labeled in the presence of the tested individual and that a part of the specimen be retained in a secure manner to prevent the possibility of tampering, so that if the individual’s confirmation test results are positive the individual has an opportunity to have the retained part tested by a 2d confirmation test done independently at another certified laboratory if the individual requests the 2d confirmation test not later than 3 days after being advised of the results of the first confirmation test;

(6)ensure appropriate safeguards for testing to detect and quantify alcohol in breath and body fluid samples, including urine and blood, through the development of regulations that may be necessary and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(7)provide for the confidentiality of test results and medical information (except information about alcohol or a controlled substance) of employees, except that this clause does not prevent the use of test results for the orderly imposition of appropriate sanctions under this chapter; and

(8)ensure that employees are selected for tests by nondiscriminatory and impartial methods, so that no employee is harassed by being treated differently from other employees in similar circumstances.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 4510449 App.:1434(d).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 614(d); added Oct. 28, 1991, Pub. L. 102–143, § 3(a), 105 Stat. 955. In this section, the word “samples” is omitted as surplus. In clause (2), before subclause (A), the word “subsequent” is omitted as surplus. In clause (3), the words “of any individual” are omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words “by any individual” are omitted as surplus. In clause (5), the word “tested” is substituted for “assayed” for consistency. The words “2d confirmation test” are substituted for “independent test” for clarity and consistency. In clause (6), the word “Secretary” is substituted for “Department” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

§45104 Testing and Laboratory Requirements

Summary

Title 49, §45104

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Citations & Metadata