Drug Test Results Getting Rejected by USCG for Missing Info

The USCG is no longer accepting drug test results certificates in the format that most clinics are providing to mariners who self-pay for a DOT-USCG drug test.

Beginning on Friday, February 2nd, 2024, the USCG Regional Exam Centers began enforcing a requirement that the address of the SAMHSA-approved lab that processed the results is printed on the results certificate. Most drug testing companies are only printing the address where the test was performed (the clinic you walked into) on the results certificate. This is no longer sufficient.

In this blog, we provide recommendations for mariners whose drug tests have been rejected due to the recent change in enforcement, as well as recommendations for how to get a drug test that will be accepted without the need for correction.  

Here are some recommended actions for mariners who’s drug test results certificates have been rejected by the USCG:

1. Ask your clinic to provide you with a completed Form CG-719P (print the form at this link). The USCG will accept a fully completed Form 719P for drug test verification without any other documentation. They do not need either the results of the drug test or the custody and control form, because this form has a space for the address of the lab that performed the test. Once you get the CG-719P form, make sure to add your signature and date to the form (date of signing, not birthdate). 

2. Some test result forms have a field for comments or remarks. The USCG will accept a form that has the SAMHSA-approved lab’s address typed into this area. We recommend that you start by reaching out to the clinic where you provided your sample to see if they can help you get this address added. If they are unable to assist you, then the next step to get this remark added to your form is to call the phone number listed under the Medical Review Officer (MRO) name.

Here are some recommended actions for mariners who need a drug test and want to make sure they get the documentation right the first time: 

1. Get a pre-employment drug test ordered by a maritime drug testing consortium. The reason we recommend this is because maritime drug testing consortiums issue a letter providing the results of your drug test and the consortium letter is accepted by the USCG instead of a results certificate directly from a lab. You can get a test from a consortium without joining the consortium’s random pool. Here is an option for using a consortium: Maritime Consortium - Non-member Test

2. Get a pre-employment drug test ordered by an online MRO company specializing in USCG tests. Here is an option for an online MRO company: National Drug Screening, INC - ​​DOT Urine Drug Test for USCG with CG – 719P

3. If you choose to walk into a local clinic, make sure that the clinic selects USCG in their computer software as they generate the Chain of Custody. We have noticed that some of the larger companies are reacting to the USCG’s recent updates in requirements and will proactively print the necessary information only if the test is marked as USCG on the Chain of Custody.

‍