Federal employees can now be tested for more drugs, using more types of samples
What happened
The US government has updated its rules for drug testing federal employees. It added new drugs to the list and allows testing using oral fluid samples, not just urine.
Why it matters
For decades, federal drug testing focused on a limited set of drugs and collection methods. This update means employers can now test for a wider range of substances, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and use less invasive oral fluid tests. This makes drug testing easier and more comprehensive for federal agencies.
The signal
Watch for how quickly federal agencies adopt oral fluid testing and whether the expanded drug panels lead to a measurable increase in positive drug tests.