DRUG-TESTING RULE OFFERED

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is proposing a rule that would allow federal agencies to use sweat, saliva and hair samples in federal drug-testing programs.  The programs currently test urine.  Officials with the agency, which is part of the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services, said the proposal is based on scientific advances that would allow officials to use sweat, saliva and hair with the same confidence in results as with urine.

The proposed rule will be printed in the Federal Register this week and open for comment for 90 days.

About 40,000 federal workers in positions in which they need security clearances, carry firearms, deal with public safety or national security, or are presidential appointees are drug tested when they apply for jobs.  Some are subject to random drug testing during their employment.  Other federal employees are tested only if they are involved in a workplace accident or show signs of drug use.

Under the rule, federal agencies will choose whether to use the new tests.  Agencies will consider their own needs and whether employees may consider these tests less intrusive and less invasive of privacy than collecting urine specimens.

For more information, go online to www.samhsa.gov.