WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Transportation plans increase the scope of its drug testing regime and change the training requirements for Medical Review Officers.

The new rules will add several amphetamine-type drugs to the required testing list - MDMA, MDA and MDEA – and add a test for 6-AM, a marker for heroin use. As well, the DOT will lower the positive threshold for traces of cocaine and amphetamines.

The DOT expects this change to result in a marked increase in the number of positives for cocaine use.

The changes, however, are not part of the pending rule at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that would create a national database on drug and alcohol tests that trucking employers could access. Instead, they are being undertaken by DOT in order to bring its procedures into line with those of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The final rule also wipes out an employer’s choice of using a full service drug-testing laboratory or Instrumented Initial Test Facilities (IITFs). Because IITFs provide initial testing but are not used for confirmation tests, their results will not be acceptable. Under the law DOT-sanctioned facilities have to do both initial testing and confirmation tested.

Also, Medical Review Officers will be required to get re-qualified every five years, but the requirement for continuing education will be scrapped.

The 61-page rule will go into effect October 1 and is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register this week.