Medical Review Officer

A Medical Review Officer (MRO) is a person who is a licensed physician responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory drug testing results generated by an employer’s drug testing program and evaluating medical explanations for certain drug test results. The MRO acts as an independent and impartial “gatekeeper” and advocate for the accuracy and integrity of the drug testing process. The MRO certification process is a requirement in the Untied States Department of Transportation for a physician to be accredited to perform such function of reviewing laboratory results for drug and alcohol testing. Such testing requirements are applicable to the various United States Federal Agencies, including:

Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Transit Administration (mass transit)
National Transportation Safety Board
Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration
The United States Coast Guard.

In Hong Kong, various companies, especially the airline industries, have already adopted a voluntary alcohol and drug-testing program for their workers in the past years. From 1 September 2018 onwards, the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department will implement mandatory screening tests for psychoactive substances on all ab-initio applicants.