![]() Consequently clinical laboratories must be equipped to offer an extensive UDT test menu that includes both commonly prescribed medications as well as commonly abused drugs.Īccording to an audience poll during a scientific session at the 70th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting in 2018, more than 50% of laboratories have adjusted their toxicology testing in response to the opioid crisis (10).ĭue to its superior sensitivity and specificity, definitive testing-such as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-is recommended by experts, including the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and AACC, over immunoassays for UDT for pain management monitoring (6,8,11). National guidelines recommend UDT not only to assess compliance but also to detect undisclosed substances and diversion (7-9). Urine drug testing (UDT) is an effective tool in pain management to monitor compliance with prescribed medications (6). As a result, clinicians face the challenge of providing necessary pain control for patients while maintaining a low risk for substance abuse. Furthermore, rates of opioid and drug misuse, including abuse and diversion, continue to rise (3).Īlthough opioid prescription rates have dropped in response to the opioid crisis, the average days of prescription supply have increased, and more than 40% of patients report that their pain is not treated adequately (4,5). At least half of the deaths involved a prescription opioid obtained primarily from a friend or relative (2). ![]() Drug overdose deaths increased dramatically from 1980 to 2016, surpassing deaths from guns, HIV, and car crashes (1).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |