As to the actual test results themselves and what the trucking company does with them, there are actually two forms that are sent. One is sent to the laboratory and on that form, it does not contain the truck driver’s name. There is, however, a barcode on the form as well as the driver’s social security number. The other form, however, is sent to the medical review officer and it does contain information on the driver.
Once the medical review officer is informed of the positive test result then he or she will complete a form and it will contain all the information as to the test results. The next step in the procedure is for the truck driver or I should say, actually, it’s going to be the medical review officer, to determine whether the truck driver actually has a medically necessary reason for the positive test result.
The medical review officer can also offer the truck driver an opportunity to do a second test just to make sure that there is not a false positive against the truck driver. The medical review officer has an affirmative duty to review with the truck driver, the results and also to make sure and verify that the results are, in fact, positive. If the test result is determined to be positive then the results of that test result are sent to the company.
As trucking lawyers, we will normally get the medical officer’s review and report as to the positive results because oftentimes, it contains great valuable information about the truck driver and the positive result. A lot of time, trucking accident attorneys will go ahead and get the medical review officer’s report because it contains valuable information to your case. If you have questions about whether the test results for either drugs or alcohol is likely to be admitted in the evidence in your particular case, call my office at seven 770-792-1000 and I’ll be happy to discuss.