Why Medical Review Officers Matter

When we talk about fostering safe workplaces and healthy people, it’s easy to focus on policies, training, and testing. But behind the scenes, there’s a critical player ensuring those drug and alcohol testing programs are not only effective, but fair, accurate, and legally defensible. That player? The Medical Review Officer (MRO).

As a workplace substance use consultant, I often find myself explaining the value of MROs to employers who are striving to build credible and compliant testing programs.

What Is an MRO and Why Should You Care?

A Medical Review Officer is a licensed physician with specific training in lab processes and drug testing. Their role? To independently review drug test results and determine if there’s a legitimate medical explanation behind a non-negative result. It’s a thorough, structured review that protects employees from false positives and ensures employers make informed, defensible decisions.

How MROs Contribute to Safer Workplaces

Here’s what MROs do that directly impacts safety and compliance:

  • Verify accuracy: Test results are confirmed with an objective lens.
  • Reduce safety risks: Identifying problematic substance use helps prevent incidents in safety-sensitive roles.
  • Deter misuse: The presence of an MRO adds professionalism, medical expertise, and accountability to your testing program.
  • Support next steps: In many cases, the MRO is the first person to uncover a problematic substance use issue.

Regulatory Compliance Starts Here

In Canada, we have no legislated regulations for workplace drug testing. Best practices dictate lab-based testing. MROs are the link to ensure that lab test results are:

  • interpreted properly
  • reported objectively
  • consistent with your policy
  • legally defensible

They’re your compliance compass.

Privacy, Fairness, and Trust

Employees are more likely to engage with your testing program and disclose concerns when they trust the process. MROs uphold strict confidentiality and approach every case objectively. That neutrality is key in maintaining a culture that values safety, and dignity and respect.

Final Thoughts

If you’re investing in a workplace drug and alcohol testing program, don’t stop at the policy or the testing process. Make sure you have an MRO involved. They’re the difference between a process that’s merely operational and one that’s comprehensive, ethical, and legally defensible.