In early September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), proposed Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs Using Hair (HMG) in the Federal Register. The guidelines will allow federal executive branch agencies to collect and test hair specimens for pre-employment drug tests and random drug tests. This type of testing is not appropriate for reasonable suspicion testing and post-accident testing since drugs generally are not detected in hair for 5 to 7 days after ingestion. Federal agencies that choose to test hair specimens must authorize collection and testing of at least one other specimen that is authorized under the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs and then provide procedures whereby the alternate specimen is used.
