Civilian drug urinalysis split collection directive Published Sept. 2, 2010 By Claudie Cleveland 21st Space Wing Drug Demand Reduction Program manager PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Beginning in October, a new Air Force policy allows for an increase in civilian drug urinalysis testing. Until now, some Appropriated Funds employees were subject to random drug urinalysis testing. These employees were identified by the nature of the employee's job, according to civilian personnel flight criteria. Now, some Non-Appropriated Funds personnel are also eligible for random drug urinalysis testing under the Air Force Civilian Drug Testing Program, Air Force Instruction 44-170. At present, Peterson Air Force Base has the largest number of testing designated position employees in Air Force Space Command, excluding NAF employees. Not all civilians in the TDPs and not all NAF employees will be subject to the random testing. Only TDP employees and NAF employees classified by the civilian personnel flight are eligible for random drug urinalysis testing. The Oct. 1 time frame for civilian drug urinalysis testing has one very significant factor of note: a split collection procedure will be required of the designated TDP employees and NAF employees. Civilians must be prepared to provide enough urine to fill two 30 milliliter containers. Each container will be labeled as specimen (A) and (B) constituting a split collection per employee. This new directive is in line with the Department of Transportation with authority of the Department of the Air Force. The Oct.1 implementation date will ensure Health and Human Services-certified laboratories continue to use the same testing and reporting procedures for federal workplace drug testing programs and transportation workplace drug testing programs subject to DOT regulations. The Oct. 1 date will also be consistent with the beginning of the new fiscal year for federal agencies. Supervisors of TDP employees are already aware of the Air Force initiative of 100 percent testing of all TDP employees on an annual basis. Now, with the addition of NAF employees, the new requirement is a significant challenge for the Drug Demand Reduction Program. Supervisors are being asked for their assistance in order to achieve the desired annual goal; an aggressive notification process by supervisors is essential. For information, call the DDR program manager at 556-9147.