How long does the laboratory retain specimens?

Thousands of specimens are sent to laboratories every night by couriers and shipping firms like FedEx. Each specimen is then added to a batch and entered into the system. Specimens are reported to the MRO as negative if they test negative in the initial immunoassay analysis. A second sample of urine is obtained from the container and examined using mass spectrometry equipment to confirm the presence of particular drugs or drug metabolites if the initial analysis indicates the presence of drugs in the specimen. The specimen is only reported as positive to the Medical Review Officer if it tested positive on both the first immunoassay and the mass spectrometry confirmation analysis. The results are provided to the Medical Review Officer when the laboratory has validated the analysis of the specimen.

A specimen that was reported with positive, adulterated, substituted, or invalid results must be kept by the laboratory testing the initial specimen for at least one year. In compliance with HHS requirements, you must store such a specimen in safe, long-term, frozen storage.

The MRO, employee, the employer, or a DOT agency may ask in writing within the year that you keep a specimen for an extended period of time (for example, to preserve evidence for legal proceedings or a safety investigation). You must comply by such a request if you get one. If you don't get an inquiry like that, you can get rid of the sample at the end of the year.

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