Glossary of Background Screening Terms

Third-party organizations contracted with employers that provide educational and counseling services. Types of services and who may be eligible vary and will be detailed in employee benefit packages.

A person or entity that employs one or more individuals and establishes or administers a workplace drug and/or alcohol testing program. This includes employers’ officers, representatives, and management personnel responsible for program oversight. In DOT‑regulated programs, an employer is any person or entity subject to DOT agency regulations requiring compliance with applicable drug and alcohol testing requirements.

Training provided to breath alcohol technicians (BATs), collectors, and screening test technicians (STTs) following an error that resulted in the cancellation of a drug or alcohol test. 

A device approved by NHTSA for the evidential testing of breath at the .02 and .04 alcohol concentrations, placed on NHTSA's Conforming Products List (CPL) for Evidential Breath Measurement Devices and identified on the CPL as conforming with the model specifications available from NHTSA's Traffic Safety Program

The Department of Health and Human Services or any designee of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

Often referred to as a “per se” limit, a legal or regulatory threshold that defines impairment based on a measured concentration of a substance. Under an impairment standard, an individual may be considered impaired when their test result exceeds the established cutoff level, even if there is no direct evidence of observable impairment or adverse effects.

The deterioration of an individual’s judgment and/or physical ability impacts their ability to function productively and/or safely. Drug or alcohol use, sleep deprivation, or distraction could all be impairing.

The first analytical test performed on a specimen to determine whether the presence of drugs or drug metabolites is below established cutoff levels or if further (confirmation) testing is required. This test is used to differentiate a negative result from a non‑negative result.

The first laboratory test performed on a specimen to assess specimen integrity and determine whether it is consistent with normal human urine, including evaluation for adulteration, dilution, or substitution.

The result of a drug test for a urine specimen that contains an unidentified adulterant or an unidentified interfering substance, has abnormal physical characteristics, or has an endogenous substance at an abnormal concentration that prevents the laboratory from completing or obtaining a valid drug test result.

A licensed physician who is responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory drug test results and evaluating potential medical explanations for non-negative findings. The MRO determines the final result of a drug test before it is reported to the employer and serves as an independent, confidential safeguard in the drug testing process.

A final test result indicating that the concentration of drugs or drug metabolites in a specimen is below the applicable cutoff levels, and no further testing or review is required.

An initial, preliminary screening result that indicates a specimen is not clearly negative, suggesting the presence of drugs, metabolites, or issues like adulteration, substitution, or dilution. Non-negative results are not final and require additional laboratory confirmation testing (e.g., GC-MS) and/or Medical Review Offer (MRO) review before a final determination is made. 

DOT division that oversees drug and alcohol testing for transportation workers in aviation, trucking, rail, and transit industries.

A final test result indicating that the concentration of a drug or drug metabolite in a specimen meets or exceeds the applicable cutoff level and has been confirmed through required laboratory testing and Medical Review Officer (MRO) review. 

The portion of a collected specimen that is opened and tested by the initial laboratory to determine the presence of drugs or drug metabolites and to perform specimen validity testing. Results from the primary specimen are used for initial screening, confirmation testing, and Medical Review Officer (MRO) review. 

For cannabis testing purposes, this refers to tests designed to detect proximate use that occurred within hours prior to specimen collection.

a job role where an employee’s impaired performance, due to alcohol or drug use, could result in a significant incident affecting the health and safety of the employee, coworkers, the public, or cause substantial property damage.
These positions often involve operating heavy machinery, driving commercial vehicles, handling hazardous materials, or managing public safety. 

An individual who is trained and qualified to conduct alcohol screening tests, including instructing and assisting individuals during the testing process and operating approved alcohol screening devices. An STT performs screening tests only and does not conduct alcohol confirmation tests using an evidential breath testing device (EBT).

Any person or entity, other than an employee of the employer, who provides or coordinates services related to workplace drug and/or alcohol testing programs. In DOT-regulated programs, service agents include organizations or individuals who perform functions specified under DOT regulations in support of employer compliance.

A bottle that, once filled, sealed, and labeled according to applicable collection procedures, is used to hold and protect a urine specimen during storage and transportation to the laboratory.

A unique identifier assigned to a specimen at the collection site at the time of collection. This identifier appears on the Chain of Custody Form and specimen bottle and stays with the specimen through its entire life. It is used to maintain chain of custody and identify or track the specimen from the moment of collection until the result is reported.

A portion of a urine specimen that is sealed and retained unopened after collection and initially sent with the primary specimen to the first laboratory. The split specimen is preserved for testing at a second laboratory if the donor requests reanalysis following a verified positive, adulterated, or substituted result on the primary specimen.

The practice of temporarily removing an employee from the performance of safety-sensitive functions based solely on a laboratory report to the Medical Review Officer (MRO) indicating a confirmed positive, adulterated, or substituted drug test, before the MRO has completed verification of the test result.

A person who evaluates employees who have violated DOT drug and alcohol regulations and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.

Specimen with creatinine and specific gravity values that are so diminished that they are not consistent with human urine.

A strip affixed to or used with a urine specimen bottle to determine whether the specimen’s temperature is within the expected range of 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit (32-38 degrees Celsius) at the time of collection. This helps to ensure that tampering has not occurred.

A drug test result or specimen validity test result from an HHS-certified laboratory that has undergone review by a Medical Review Officer (MRO) and finalized as the official test result.