A Medical Review Officer (MRO) is a licensed physician with specialized training in substance abuse testing who serves as an independent gatekeeper between the laboratory and the employer. When a lab reports a positive, adulterated, or substituted test result, the MRO reviews the finding and contacts the employee to determine whether there is a legitimate medical explanation, such as a valid prescription. Only after this review does the MRO report a verified result to the employer.
This step protects everyone involved. Employees get a fair chance to explain a result before it affects their job, and employers receive medically verified results that can withstand legal scrutiny. MROs are required for all DOT-regulated testing programs, and many non-DOT employers use them as a best practice. If you need an MRO for your testing program, you can find qualified providers in our directory.
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