Validity of Drug Test Results Set to One Year

Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) is the legal basis for the amendment.
Article III, Section 36 of Republic Act No. 9165 governs the validity period of drug test certificates issued by accredited drug testing centers.
Section 36 requires authorized drug testing through government forensic laboratories or through DOH-accredited and monitored drug testing laboratories.
Section 36 requires drug testing to employ at least two testing methods: a screening test and a confirmatory test.

Accredited drug testing centers issue drug test certificates under the framework of Section 36.
The rule directly covers drug test certificates issued by DOH-accredited drug testing centers.
The validity rule applies to the “date of issue” of the drug test certificate.

LTO Administrative Order No. 007-2003 provides that all drug test certificates issued by accredited drug testing centers are valid for one (1) year from the date of issue.
Section 36 also provides that drug test certificates issued by accredited drug testing centers may be used for other purposes during the validity period.
The validity period is fixed at one (1) year; it is measured from the date of issue.

The amendment requires strict compliance with the one (1) year validity rule.
Drug testing is anchored on authorized testing structures under Republic Act No. 9165 and uses screening and confirmatory methods.
The rule ensures consistent acceptance and use of drug test certificates issued by accredited centers within the prescribed validity period.

LTO Administrative Order No. 007-2003 amends Section V of Administrative Order No. BGC-AO-001.
All orders, memoranda, and other issuances inconsistent with LTO Administrative Order No. 007-2003 are superseded.
The order contains an operational direction to ensure the amended validity period governs certificate use under its coverage.