DOT Testing

Testing Site & Tester

Testing Site

When you arrive at the selected testing site, disregard any hours posted on the door. You are required to wait 45 minutes for the tester. Once that time has lapsed, call the Designated Employee Representative, Bridget Kirshner, (817) 729-4247, or your base MOD to be released.

You must be released from one of the parties listed. Bridget’s name and the number is listed on the CCF (Customs Custody Form). Do not leave the testing site until you are released by Bridget or another member of Management. Leaving the testing site without being released may be considered a refusal to test.

Tester

Once your tester arrives, the tester is required to identify themselves correctly. If they don’t show ID, you can request it. Unfortunately, with the use of satellite bases, there is a multitude of different facilities that can be used. If a public restroom is used, it should be cleared of any other individuals. You should expect a clean and private restroom to complete your test. Do not be alarmed if the restroom is locked behind you, this is done to prevent anyone else from entering.

Process

Test Process

Once the testing has begun, you can expect to see a bluing agent in all toilets in the facility, and your ability to access the water faucets will not be available until the end of your test. Your belongings and outer clothing should be left outside of the bathroom stall. These steps are taken to reduce the chances of any tampering. At the time of your test, you will be given a collection container and will be directed to void at least 45ml of urine. You should be present for the opening of the collection supplies. When you give the tester the container with your urine, it will be temperature checked and visually checked for other proper signs to determine it hasn’t been altered. Remember to keep a visual of your specimen until it is properly sealed.

Irregularities

Call Bridget immediately if you notice any irregularities that are not remedied with your request. It is best to address any issues at the time of your test. If you are not able to void the proper amount of urine or are unable to properly do the breathalyzer, see your primary care physician immediately to obtain documentation to give a valid medical reason for not being able to complete your test. You have 5 days to complete this step. You want to furnish this documentation to the MRO (Medical Review Officer) when they contact you with your results. Providing a medical reason will allow them to disregard your failed test.

Shy Bladder Procedures

The term "shy bladder" refers to a situation when the employee does not provide a sufficient amount of urine (45 mL) for a DOT-required drug test. If an employee tells the collector, upon arrival at the collection site, that he or she cannot provide a specimen, the collector must still begin the collection procedure regardless of the reason given. The collector should tell the employee that most individuals can provide 45 mL of urine, even when they think they cannot urinate, and direct the employee to make the attempt to provide the specimen. At the point in the collection procedure where the collector and employee unwrap/open a collection container, the collector does the following:

The collector requests the employee to go into the rest room and try to provide a specimen.

If the employee provided an initial insufficient specimen, the collector discards the insufficient specimen. The collector then annotates in the “Remarks” line the time when the employee provided the insufficient specimen. This is the time when the “shy bladder” collection process starts.

The collector explains to the employee the process for a shy bladder collection and urges the employee to drink up to 40 ounces of fluids, distributed reasonably through a period of up to three hours, or until the individual has provided a sufficient urine specimen, whichever occurs first. It is not a refusal to test if the employee declines to drink.

If the employee refuses to make the attempt to provide a new urine specimen or leaves the collection site before the collection process is completed, the collector must discontinue the collection, note the fact on the “Remarks” line of the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) (Step 2), and immediately notify the designated employee representative (DER). This is a refusal to test.

If the employee has not provided a sufficient specimen within three hours of the first unsuccessful attempt to provide the specimen, the collector must discontinue the collection, note the fact on the “Remarks” line of the CCF (Step 2) and immediately notify the DER.

Discard any specimen the employee provided (to include any specimen that is “out of temperature range” or “shows signs of tampering”). If the employee provided an “out of temperature range specimen” or “specimen that shows signs of tampering”, note in the “Remarks” section that it was discarded because the employee did not provide a second sufficient specimen.

The collector then sends Copy 2 of the CCF to the MRO and Copy 4 to the DER. This is done even if employer of the problem. The collector must send or fax these copies to the MRO and DER within 24 hours or the next business day.

Post Testing Procedures

Post Testing

If you are contacted by the Medical Review Officer about a test result:

The MRO will call the FA first to determine if there is a medical prescription for the found drug.
All prescriptions should be current within 6 months.
The MRO will give you an opportunity to send proof.
If it is an illegal substance or you don’t have a prescription, the MRO will contact the company to report the positive drug test.

Post Notification

A Flight Attendant who is notified of a positive result is required to meet with Flight Service (normally his/her FSM) within three (3) days after notification of a confirmed positive result (including those that at the time of testing were unknown to be adulterated or substituted, but later confirmed adulterate or substituted)

Note: The Flight Attendant is pay withheld immediately following notification of the positive result until meeting with their FSM and the Substance Abuse Program (SAP). After the SAP initial evaluation, D&A will send out pay instructions for going forward. It will follow similarly to the prior policy’s alcohol positive - if the SAP determines the FA is chemically dependent, the employee can use sick/unpaid sick to cover the absence.

Substance Abuse Program (SAP)

If the Substance Abuse Program (SAP) determines the FA is not chemically dependent, the employee will be placed on an unpaid suspension from the SAP evaluation date until cleared to return. Ifthe Flight Attendant fails to attend either the meeting with the FSM or SAP, their status will be changed to unpaid withheld.

A “Return to Work” Letter of Understanding needs to be signed within seven (7) days of receipt of the agreement, if applicable (executed letters are to be returned to the Drug & Alcohol Policy department). Flight Attendant is required to meet with SAP for initial evaluation within five (5) days of the signing of the “Return to Work” Letter of Understanding

DOT Testing

Testing Site & Tester

Testing Site

Tester

Process

Test Process

Irregularities

Shy Bladder Procedures

Post Testing Procedures

Post Testing

Post Notification

Substance Abuse Program (SAP)

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APFA Events

Call APFA

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APFA Events

Call APFA

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APFA Events