Health and Human Services (HHS) Mandatory Guidelines

The comprehensive Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program addresses illicit drug use by federal employees.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), by authority of Section 503 of Public Law 100-71 (PDF | 31 KB) 5 U.S.C. Section 7301 and Executive Order 12564, establishes the scientific and technical guidelines for federal workplace drug-testing programs. HHS also establishes standards for certified labs that conduct urine drug-testing for federal agencies.

Urine

The revised Urine Mandatory Guidelines became effective October 1, 2017. See the final guidelines and revisions below:

• Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Program: Final Rule, Federal Register, 82 FR 7920 – 2017
• The Revised Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing using Urine FAQs (PDF | 148 KB)
• Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs: Correction, Federal Register, 73 FR 75122 – 2008 (PDF | 13 KB)
• Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs: Final Notice of Revisions, Federal Register, 73 FR 71858 – 2008

Oral

The Oral Fluid Mandatory Guidelines became effective January 1, 2020.

• 2019 Final MG for Oral Fluid (PDF | 531 KB)
• 2015 Proposed MG for Oral Fluid (PDF | 458 KB)

HHS Proposed Mandatory Guidelines

• Notice of Proposed Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs, 85 FR 56108, Hair – 9/10/2020
• Notice of Proposed Revisions to the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs, 94 FR 28101, Urine – 2015
• Notice of Proposed Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs, 94 FR 28054, Oral Fluid – 2015

Drug-testing Resources

The following sections provide links to resources related to drug-testing program management, specimen collection, certified laboratories, and certified medical review officers (MCOs).

Employer Resources

The Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) and the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association (SAPPA) provide information, education, and training for managing drug-testing programs in the workplace.

SAMHSA also provides guidance on selecting or reviewing positions designated for random testing under the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program:

2013 Guidance for Selection of Testing Designated Positions (TDPs) – (PDF | 262 KB)

Specimen Collection Resources

• Urine Specimen Collection Handbook – 2017 (PDF | 462 KB)
• Collection Site Checklist for the Collection of Urine Specimens – 2017 (PDF | 657 KB)
• Collection Site Manual for the Collection of Urine Specimens;– 2017 (PDF | 648 KB)
• Collection Site Checklist for the Collection of Urine Specimens – 2010 (PDF | 178 KB, DOC | 112 KB)
• Collection Site Manual for the Collection of Urine Specimens – 2010 (PDF | 314 KB, DOC | 111 KB)
• Urine Specimen Collection Handbook – 2015 (PDF | 89 KB)

Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF)

Use the Federal Custody and Control Form to collect urine specimens for federally regulated programs.

• 2020 Federal Custody and Control Form for Urine and Oral Fluid Specimens (PDF | 1 MB)
• 2020 Guidance for Using the Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF) for Urine Specimens (PDF | 192 KB)
• 2017 Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF) for Urine Specimens (PDF | 640 KB)
• Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF) from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
• Instructions for Completing the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form for Urine Specimen Collection (PDF | 126 KB)
• Guidance for Using the 2017 Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF) for Urine Specimens (PDF | 77 KB)
• 2014 Federal Custody and Control Form from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
• Guidance for Using the 2014 Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF) for Urine Specimens – 2014 (PDF | 104 KB)
• Federal eCCF: HHS/NLCP Oversight and Requirements (PDF | 28 KB)
• 2014 Federal eCCF from the OMB Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (Notice of Approval, May 31, 2014)
• Instructions for Completing the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form for Oral Fluid Specimen Collection (PDF |146 KB)

Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB)

DTAB provides advice to SAMHSA on its drug-testing activities and laboratory certification program.

Laboratory Testing Resources

• 2017 Revised Fee Schedule Notice (PDF | 185 KB)
• National Laboratory Certification Program (NLCP) – 2013 (PDF | 18 KB)
• 2011 NLCP Fee Schedule (PDF | 41 KB)
• Drug Cutoff Concentrations (PDF | 45 KB)
• Suppliers of Blind Quality Control (QC) Urine Samples – 2012 (PDF | 45 KB)
• Anomalous Results for 6-Acetylmorphine - 2011 (PDF | 33 KB)
• Laboratories Offering K2/Spice Testing (PDF | 18.9 KB)

Medical Review Officer (MRO) Resources

Medical review officers (MROs) are licensed physicians responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory results for drug testing.

• Revised March 2018 MRO Guidance Manual (PDF | 6.8 MB) (UPDATED)
• HHS Approval of Entities That Certify MROs, 80 FR 30080 – 2017 (PDF | 213 KB)
• 2018 MRO Case Studies (PDF | 863 KB) (UPDATED)