Medical Review Officer (MRO) Exam A&B
ALL 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR.pdf
SECTION A: REGULATIONS & GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (Questions 1-
15)
Question 1: MROs must pass a nationally recognized certifying
examination for which of the following activities?
A) All MRO work
B) All federally regulated MRO work
C) All DHHS and DOT MRO work
D) All states with provisions allowing medical marijuana
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C
Rationale: Both SAMHSA and DOT clearly specify that MROs must be
certified for all DHHS and DOT MRO work. This does not include non-
federally regulated drug testing (where only a handful of states require
MRO certification) or other federal agencies like DOD and NRC, which do
not require MRO certification. State marijuana laws make no reference to
MROs .
,Question 2: Which of the following drug tests is NOT required for federal
employees under the federal Drug-Free Workplace Program?
A) Pre-placement
B) Post-accident
C) Return to duty
D) Unreasonable suspicion
E) Random
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: D
Rationale: SAMHSA's Drug Free Workplace Program specifies
"Reasonable Suspicion" as one of the types of drug testing found on the
federal Custody and Control Form. The incorrect ,,,,answer,,, was
"unreasonable suspicion," which is not a valid testing category .
Question 3: Which of the following is the "weakest link" in drug testing,
i.e., generally produces the most frequent errors?
A) Specimen collection
B) Laboratory testing
C) MRO review
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: A
Rationale: Among drug testing personnel, there are far more specimen
collectors than laboratory staff or MROs. Collectors receive the least
amount of training, are paid the lowest wages, and have the highest job
turnover. Quality reviews show that a substantially larger number of errors
,occur in collection and properly completing the Custody and Control
Form .
Question 4: Which of the following roles is primary for the MRO?
A) Lab checker
B) SAP advisor
C) Gatekeeper
D) Mediator
E) Substance Abuse Identifier
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C
Rationale: Although each of these monikers identify occasional,
peripheral roles of the MRO, the DOT has clearly earmarked the role of the
MRO as a gatekeeper - one who controls access to the employer by
ensuring that only valid, verified drug test results are reported .
Question 5: Name the official government action that established the
goal of a Federal drug-free workplace.
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: Executive Order 12564
Rationale: Executive Order 12564 was issued by President Ronald Reagan
in 1986, requiring federal agencies to establish a program aimed at
eliminating the use of illegal drugs in the workplace. This order set a policy
precedent for federal agencies to implement drug-free workplace policies
and created a framework for private employers to follow suit .
, Question 6: What 2 government agencies are authorized to interpret
federal drug and alcohol regulations?
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance
(ODAPC) and the DOT Office of General Counsel (OGC)
Rationale: These two agencies have the exclusive authority to provide
official interpretations of DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. No
other agency or individual, including MROs, can provide binding
interpretations .
Question 7: True/False: The MRO is required to review all drug and alcohol
test results.
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: False
Rationale: MROs must review all non-negative drug test results (positive,
adulterated, substituted, invalid). However, negative results do not
require MRO review and can be reported directly by the laboratory or MRO
assistant .
Question 8: If DOT requires a drug testing event for a DOT covered
employee that is prohibited by a state law, what is the proper action?
A) Follow state law as it is more restrictive
B) Proceed as required by DOT
ALL 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR.pdf
SECTION A: REGULATIONS & GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (Questions 1-
15)
Question 1: MROs must pass a nationally recognized certifying
examination for which of the following activities?
A) All MRO work
B) All federally regulated MRO work
C) All DHHS and DOT MRO work
D) All states with provisions allowing medical marijuana
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C
Rationale: Both SAMHSA and DOT clearly specify that MROs must be
certified for all DHHS and DOT MRO work. This does not include non-
federally regulated drug testing (where only a handful of states require
MRO certification) or other federal agencies like DOD and NRC, which do
not require MRO certification. State marijuana laws make no reference to
MROs .
,Question 2: Which of the following drug tests is NOT required for federal
employees under the federal Drug-Free Workplace Program?
A) Pre-placement
B) Post-accident
C) Return to duty
D) Unreasonable suspicion
E) Random
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: D
Rationale: SAMHSA's Drug Free Workplace Program specifies
"Reasonable Suspicion" as one of the types of drug testing found on the
federal Custody and Control Form. The incorrect ,,,,answer,,, was
"unreasonable suspicion," which is not a valid testing category .
Question 3: Which of the following is the "weakest link" in drug testing,
i.e., generally produces the most frequent errors?
A) Specimen collection
B) Laboratory testing
C) MRO review
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: A
Rationale: Among drug testing personnel, there are far more specimen
collectors than laboratory staff or MROs. Collectors receive the least
amount of training, are paid the lowest wages, and have the highest job
turnover. Quality reviews show that a substantially larger number of errors
,occur in collection and properly completing the Custody and Control
Form .
Question 4: Which of the following roles is primary for the MRO?
A) Lab checker
B) SAP advisor
C) Gatekeeper
D) Mediator
E) Substance Abuse Identifier
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C
Rationale: Although each of these monikers identify occasional,
peripheral roles of the MRO, the DOT has clearly earmarked the role of the
MRO as a gatekeeper - one who controls access to the employer by
ensuring that only valid, verified drug test results are reported .
Question 5: Name the official government action that established the
goal of a Federal drug-free workplace.
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: Executive Order 12564
Rationale: Executive Order 12564 was issued by President Ronald Reagan
in 1986, requiring federal agencies to establish a program aimed at
eliminating the use of illegal drugs in the workplace. This order set a policy
precedent for federal agencies to implement drug-free workplace policies
and created a framework for private employers to follow suit .
, Question 6: What 2 government agencies are authorized to interpret
federal drug and alcohol regulations?
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance
(ODAPC) and the DOT Office of General Counsel (OGC)
Rationale: These two agencies have the exclusive authority to provide
official interpretations of DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. No
other agency or individual, including MROs, can provide binding
interpretations .
Question 7: True/False: The MRO is required to review all drug and alcohol
test results.
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: False
Rationale: MROs must review all non-negative drug test results (positive,
adulterated, substituted, invalid). However, negative results do not
require MRO review and can be reported directly by the laboratory or MRO
assistant .
Question 8: If DOT requires a drug testing event for a DOT covered
employee that is prohibited by a state law, what is the proper action?
A) Follow state law as it is more restrictive
B) Proceed as required by DOT
