# What does the MRO do when a drug test specimen is rejected for testing?

**Citation:** 49 CFR 40.161  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** 2026-08-18  
**Published:** Not stated

As the MRO, when the laboratory reports that the specimen is rejected for testing (e.g., because of a fatal or uncorrected flaw), you must do the following:

(a) Place a check mark in the “Test Cancelled” box (Step 6) on Copy 2 (or a legible copy of Copy 3-5) of the CCF and enter the reason on the “

## Document text

As the MRO, when the laboratory reports that the specimen is rejected for testing (e.g., because of a fatal or uncorrected flaw), you must do the following:

(a) Place a check mark in the “Test Cancelled” box (Step 6) on Copy 2 (or a legible copy of Copy 3-5) of the CCF and enter the reason on the “Remarks” line. If you do not have Copy 2 (or a legible copy of Copy 3-5), then enter “Test Cancelled” and the reason for the cancellation on a report in the format required under § 40.163(c).

(b) Report to the DER that the test is cancelled and the reason for cancellation, and that no further action is required unless a negative test is required (e.g., in the case of a pre-employment, return-to-duty, or follow-up test).

(c) You may only report a test cancelled because of a “rejected for testing” laboratory result when you are in possession of a legible copy of Copy 1 of the CCF. In addition, you must have Copy 2 of the CCF, a legible copy of it, or any other copy of the CCF containing the employee's signature. If you do not have Copy 2 (or a legible copy of Copy 3-5), then enter “Test Cancelled” and the reason for the cancellation on a report in the format required under § 40.163(c).

[65 FR 79526, Dec. 19, 2000, as amended at 88 FR 27646, May 2, 2023]

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2026-08-18/title-49/section-40.161>
- Source ID: `ecfr`
- SHA-256: `e92bfc7024903c7e897b0713dffe762373f58a2096c7f7ecf948e07b6b46c22d`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T05:54:21.729Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T04:20:18.732Z
- Document slug: `49-cfr-40-161`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cfrTitle": 49,
  "part": "40",
  "section": "40.161",
  "subpart": "Subpart G—Medical Review Officers and the Verification Process",
  "corpusVersion": "2026-08-18",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```