Quick answer
An MRO is a licensed physician who reviews non-negative results, contacts the donor for legitimate explanations, and reports the verified outcome.
In detail
The Medical Review Officer (MRO) is a licensed physician with knowledge of substance-abuse disorders who reviews laboratory results before they are reported to an employer or program. When a result is non-negative, the MRO contacts the donor to ask whether there is a legitimate medical explanation, such as a valid prescription. The donor can provide pharmacy records or prescriber information. If the explanation is accepted, the MRO reports the result as negative (or cancelled); if not, it is verified as positive. The MRO also handles dilute, invalid and substituted specimen findings. This step is why declaring prescriptions matters: it is the donor's formal opportunity to explain a result before it becomes final.
Frequently asked questions
Is a medical review officer (mro) review final?
An MRO is a licensed physician who reviews non-negative results, contacts the donor for legitimate explanations, and reports the verified outcome.
What should I do next?
If you have a legitimate prescription or medical explanation, declare it through the Medical Review Officer. Follow the program's instructions for any recollection or retest.
Is this medical or legal advice?
No. This is general educational information about how drug testing works, not medical or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
Related
All result types · Detection chart · Test types · False positives