Interview Protocol

 

In accordance with DOT guidelines and to maintain the integrity of the interview process, all tests—DOT and non-DOT—are handled according to the procedures outlined below.

We make a minimum of three attempts to contact the employee within a 24-hour period, with at least four hours between each attempt. Exceptions may include, but are not limited to, situations in which there is no voicemail available, the number has been disconnected, or the number is incorrect.

If contact cannot be established, a ‘clock letter’ is sent to the DER requesting their assistance. It is common for individuals to ignore calls from unfamiliar numbers, and many people no longer check their voicemail regularly. Our goal is to give every employee the opportunity to provide a medical explanation, when applicable, that may support changing a non-negative drug test result.

During the interview, we will review prescription medications, medical treatment, over-the-counter medication use, and potential environmental exposure. A result may only be changed to negative when there is a verifiable medical explanation. Following the interview, we may request the employee’s assistance in verifying prescription information, when necessary.

Once the interview has been completed and a medical explanation has been verified—or a reasonable amount of time has been allowed for medical confirmation—the result will be released.