On September 15, 1986 President Reagan issued an Executive Order mandating a drug-free Federal workplace with the intent that the Federal workforce would serve as a model for all American businesses.

HISTORY
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Mandatory Guidelines for Federal workplace Drug Testing Program, and Agency Drug-Free Workplace Plans, provide for a Medical Review Officer (M.R.O.).

The M.R.O. was defined as "a licensed physician with a knowledge of substance abuse disorders." Although it was a simple definition the task would prove to be critical to the drug testing environment.

Although the definition of an M.R.O. has changed little over the years the business community has placed increasing demands on both the testing laboratories and the M.R.O.'s to strengthen the accuracy and efficiency of drug testing. Without a doubt these demands are being met.

In response to industry needs approximately fifty M.R.O.s from around the United States met in Research Triangle Park, N.C. and the American Association of Medical Review Officers (A.A.M.R.O.) was created. As the association grew they developed a voluntary certification process for practitioners to facilitate the evolution of standards of practice. "The A.A.M.R.O. Certification Examination is designed to be an objective measure of competency which is based on demonstrating a fluid knowledge of the regulatory requirements, technical issues and generally accepted practices."*

OBJECTIVE
Today the Medical Review Officer has become an indispensable tool to the drug testing industry. In most states that utilize drug testing programs in connection to workers compensation issues or unemployment issues the Medical Review Officer is an integral part of testing process. Certification of the Medical Review Officer is rapidy becoming the industry standard and is a requirement in most large industries and many state programs.

In March of 1992 Dr. C. B. Thuss, Jr. became one of the first Certified Medical Review Officers in the United States (by the A.A.M.R.O.). He was re-certified by the A.A.M.R.O. in September 1997 and again in 2003 and in 2008. Absolute Drug Detection is proud to offer ONLY Certified Medical Review Officer reviews and standards for all of its clients.