On September 30, 1997, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a notice in the Federal Register, 62 FR 51118, revising the testing cutoff levels for opiates that were in Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs, 59 FR 29916 (June 9, 1994). The Federal Register notice indicated that May 1, 1998, was the effective date for implementing the new opiate testing cutoff levels. Subsequent to the publication of that notice, it became clear that not all manufacturers of immunoassay test kits would be able to provide a sufficient supply of the modified opiate reagents by that date, that it would take more time for the certified drug testing laboratories to validate the new immunoassay test kits and confirmatory test procedures for opiates, and that it would take more time to verify the performance of each laboratory using external performance testing samples. For these reasons, on February 4, 1998, the Division of Workplace Programs sent a letter to all Federal agencies, HHS certified and applicant drug testing laboratories, and immunoassay test kit manufacturers informing them that the effective date would be delayed 4 to 6 months beyond the May 1, 1998, effective date published in the September 30, 1997, Federal Register notice. This notice establishes a new effective date.
- Agencies
- Health and Human Services Department Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Document Number
- 98-30403
- Published in
- United States of America
