Why reviewing only positive results creates risk—and how full MRO oversight closes the gaps.
By Matt Wrobel, Senior Business Development Manager I3screen
When a testing program only sends laboratory-confirmed positives to an MRO, it unintentionally creates gaps in documentation and procedural consistency. In a non-regulated environment—where policies vary widely and employers rely heavily on their C/TPA and MRO for guidance—those gaps can become liabilities if a result is challenged.
Full MRO review creates defensibility in several important ways:
- Consistent Chain-of-Custody Verification
Errors in collection, form completion, or handling don’t only affect positive tests. A negative result with a flawed Chain of Custody Form (CCF) is still a flawed result—and it can be invalidated if the donor disputes the process. When an MRO verifies every test, you have consistent documentation standards across the entire program, eliminating the appearance of selective scrutiny. - Identifying Non-Lab Issues That Could Trigger Challenges
A surprising percentage of donor disputes stem from issues unrelated to lab findings: mislabeled specimens, incorrect test panels, collector mistakes, temperature out-of-range errors, and more. These issues occur in negatives just as often as positives. An MRO’s oversight helps catch and correct those issues before they undermine the employer’s decision-making. - Demonstrating Fairness and Equal Treatment
In legal challenges, perception matters. Selectively reviewing only positives can be portrayed as biased or punitive. Full-panel MRO review shows the employer applies uniform standards to every donor and every test—an important factor if a claim of unfair treatment or inconsistent application of policy arises. - Creating a Defensible Paper Trail
When all results go through the same process, your documentation becomes predictable, consistent, and complete. This strengthens your position in unemployment claims, disputes, and litigation, where employers must show their decision was based on reliable, professionally reviewed information.
At i3screen, we believe full MRO oversight isn’t simply an added step (and cost)—it’s a critical safeguard that protects employers, C/TPAs, and the individuals whose livelihoods hinge on accurate, defensible results. Ensuring every test receives expert evaluation provides the consistency, fairness, and risk reduction your program needs.
If your current process only routes lab positives to the MRO, now is the time to reassess. Expanding to full-panel MRO review strengthens compliance, enhances credibility, and offers meaningful protection when challenges arise.
i3screen can help you implement a more complete, defensible review process. Connect with our team to learn how full MRO oversight can bring greater confidence to every result you deliver.
