Navy Drug Screening Lab (NDSL) Great Lakes announced today an administrative review and scientific investigation is underway following the discovery of a sample that incorrectly tested positive for methamphetamine.

Upon discovery, the NDSL Great Lakes lab immediately ceased its amphetamine and methamphetamine testing pending careful review of the incident, processes, staff actions and training. While NDSL Great Lakes continues to test for other illicit substances, its testing for amphetamine and methamphetamine has been decertified by the Dept. of Defense Drug Testing Program and Policy Office pending the results of this review.

The administrative review will analyze the records of amphetamine and methamphetamine samples dating back to 2006, when this particular testing method for those substances was implemented. The purpose of the investigation is to determine how the cross contamination occurred. Both are being led by the commanding officer of NDSL Great Lakes with oversight from the Navy Drug Testing Program Office at the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center.

Additionally, a special inspection has been ordered by the Biochemical Testing Advisory Board, the DoD-level governing body that codifies procedures for the certification, decertification, and recertification of the DoD drug testing laboratories. This process will be led by civilian, board-certified toxicologists and will ensure the administrative review and scientific investigation were thorough and that any and all vulnerabilities in the testing method that caused the false positive results have been identified and properly addressed.

While NDSL Great Lakes is decertified, amphetamine and methamphetamine samples are being sent to NDSL Jacksonville and to the Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory (Lackland AFB, Texas), both of which use a different testing method for these substances.

If the administrative review and investigation determine that any other service members incorrectly tested positive for amphetamine or methamphetamine, the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center will immediately contact the personnel bureaus of those service members. Additionally, NDSL Great Lakes will implement recommended process improvements to ensure cross contamination does not occur in the future.