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MRO: Medical Review Officer- The vital role of the MRO in drug testing!
“MRO” refers to a “Medical Review Officer”, an expert in toxicology and the effects of drugs on the human system.
The MRO has a vital role in the overall drug-testing process. The MRO helps protect both the rights of the employee being tested and the employer requiring the testing.
An MRO “review” includes the interpretation of urinalysis test results reported by the testing lab. This is to ensure a scientifically valid result. Especially, the MRO attempts to determine whether a legitimate medical explanation could account for any “confirmed positive” result reported by the laboratory. This duty is fulfilled through telephone or in-person interview with the specimen donor. The MRO gives the donor an opportunity – through their doctor or pharmacist – to provide evidence of legally-prescribed drug-use that may have caused the lab-positive.
When the MRO can determine that a legitimate medical explanation exists, the MRO will then “overturn” the results reported by the lab. Instead, the MRO will report the “final” result to the donor’s employer as “negative”.
A small percentage of companies will not pay the extra expense associated with MRO services. However, such services do greatly enhance the validity and reliability of the overall drug-testing process. MRO services help ensure fairness to the donor. They also offer more protection to the employer in any case of later litigation for “failure to hire” or wrongful discharge” due to a “positive” drug test where the employee has been suspended or fired.
In addition, the MRO can assist your company, school, or other organization in areas of your substance abuse program such as treatment recommendations and laboratory quality control procedures. The MRO for OHS™ is Dr. Michael S. Wald.
