Last Updated: 05/28/2023
DOT Rules and Regulations / Part 40: Drug and Alcohol Regulations / Subpart C - Urine Collection Personnel
§ 40.31 Who may collect urine specimens for DOT drug testing?
(a) Collectors meeting the requirements of this subpart are the only persons authorized to collect urine specimens for DOT drug testing.
(b) A collector must meet training requirements of § 40.33.
(c) As the immediate supervisor of an employee being tested, you may not act as the collector when that employee is tested, unless no other collector is available and you are permitted to do so under DOT agency drug and alcohol regulations.
(d) You must not act as the collector for the employee being tested if you work for a HHS-certified laboratory (e.g., as a technician or accessioner) and could link the employee with a urine specimen, drug testing result, or laboratory report.
§ 40.33 What training requirements must a collector meet?
To be permitted to act as a collector in the DOT drug testing program, you must meet each of the requirements of this section:
(a)Basic information. You must be knowledgeable about this part, the current “DOT Urine Specimen Collection Procedures Guidelines,” and DOT agency regulations applicable to the employers for whom you perform collections. DOT agency regulations, the DOT Urine Specimen Collection Procedures Guidelines, and other materials are available from ODAPC (Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington DC, 20590, 202–366–3784, or on the ODAPC Web site (https://www.transportation.gov/odapc). You must keep current on any changes to these materials. You must subscribe to the ODAPC list-serve at: https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/get-odapc-email-updates.
(b)Qualification training. You must receive qualification training meeting the requirements of this paragraph. Qualification training must provide instruction on the following subjects:
(1) All steps necessary to complete a collection correctly and the proper completion and transmission of the CCF;
(2) “Problem” collections (e.g., situations like “shy bladder” and attempts to tamper with a specimen);
(3) Fatal flaws, correctable flaws, and how to correct problems in collections; and
(4) The collector's responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the collection process, ensuring the privacy of employees being tested, ensuring the security of the specimen, and avoiding conduct or statements that could be viewed as offensive or inappropriate;
(c)Initial Proficiency Demonstration. Following your completion of qualification training under paragraph (b) of this section, you must demonstrate proficiency in collections under this part by completing five consecutive error-free mock collections.
(1) The five mock collections must include two uneventful collection scenarios, one insufficient quantity of urine scenario, one temperature out of range scenario, and one scenario in which the employee refuses to sign the CCF and initial the specimen bottle tamper-evident seal.
(2) Another person must monitor and evaluate your performance, in person or by a means that provides real-time observation and interaction between the instructor and trainee, and attest in writing that the mock collections are “error-free.” This person must be a qualified collector who has demonstrated necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities by—
(i) Regularly conducting DOT drug test collections for a period of at least a year;
(ii) Conducting collector training under this part for a year; or
(iii) Successfully completing a “train the trainer” course.
(d) You must meet the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section before you begin to perform collector functions.
(e)Refresher training. No less frequently than every five years from the date on which you satisfactorily complete the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, you must complete refresher training that meets all the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
(f)Error Correction Training. If you make a mistake in the collection process that causes a test to be cancelled (i.e., a fatal or uncorrected flaw), you must undergo error correction training. This training must occur within 30 days of the date you are notified of the error that led to the need for retraining.
(1) Error correction training must be provided and your proficiency documented in writing by a person who meets the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
(2) Error correction training is required to cover only the subject matter area(s) in which the error that caused the test to be cancelled occurred.
(3) As part of the error correction training, you must demonstrate your proficiency in the collection procedures of this part by completing three consecutive error-free mock collections. The mock collections must include one uneventful scenario and two scenarios related to the area(s) in which your error(s) occurred. The person providing the training must monitor and evaluate your performance and attest in writing that the mock collections were “error-free.”
(g)Documentation. You must maintain documentation showing that you currently meet all requirements of this section. You must provide this documentation on request to DOT agency representatives and to employers and C/TPAs who are using or negotiating to use your services.
[65 FR 79526, Dec. 19, 2000; 66 FR 3885, Jan. 17, 2001, as amended at 66 FR 41950, Aug. 9, 2001; 82 FR 52244, Nov. 13, 2017]
§ 40.35 What information about the DER must employers provide to collectors?
As an employer, you must provide to collectors the name and telephone number of the appropriate DER (and C/TPA, where applicable) to contact about any problems or issues that may arise during the testing process.
§ 40.37 Where is other information on the role of collectors found in this regulation?
You can find other information on the role and functions of collectors in the following sections of this part:
§ 40.3—Definition.
§ 40.43—Steps to prepare and secure collection sites.
§§ 40.45–40.47—Use of CCF.
§§ 40.49–40.51—Use of collection kit and shipping materials.
§§ 40.61–40.63—Preliminary steps in collections.
§ 40.65—Role in checking specimens.
§ 40.67—Role in directly observed collections.
§ 40.69—Role in monitored collections.
§ 40.71—Role in split specimen collections.
§ 40.73—Chain of custody completion and finishing the collection process.
§ 40.191—Action in case of refusals to take test.
§ 40.193—Action in “shy bladder” situations.
§ 40.199–40.205—Collector errors in tests, effects, and means of correction.
[65 FR 79526, Dec. 19, 2000, as amended at 82 FR 52244, Nov. 13, 2017]
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