Urine drug testing is a powerful tool that can be adapted to meet any number of toxicology testing needs. It has become the gold standard for compliance-monitoring testing over the years and is the core of any substantial office-based testing protocol.
Here are four reasons why urine is the most commonly used matrix in toxicology:
Multiple Testing Purposes
Each client has a specific purpose for urine drug testing. A pain management physician is looking at the immediate history of a patient’s prescription regimen and checking for ingested substances that fall outside of the treatment plan. A rehabilitation specialist is verifying a person’s compliance with a court order. A business is eliminating illicit drug use to provide a safer workplace. All of these goals and more can be achieved with urine drug testing.
Extended Detection Window
Urine testing has a generous detection window of 2-5 days (depending on the substance) for spotting recent drug ingestion and offers a clear view of substances that have passed through a
patient’s system. It’s also well suited to detect high concentrations of parent drugs and their metabolites. Metabolite detection is especially useful in differentiating sample-adulteration techniques such as drug scraping from ingestion, and in eliminating confusion over which substance has actually been consumed.
Easy Sample Collection
Urine samples can be collected quickly and easily without putting undue stress on a patient or a provider’s staff. The collection process is non-invasive and can be altered to maintain sample integrity in instances when adulteration is an issue.
Extended Detection Window
Urine testing can be employed in a variety of ways. Whether a client needs instant results or an in-depth look at recent drug ingestion, urine drug testing is flexible enough to achieve the immediate and long-term goals of any practice. Matrix flexibility is one way that we can offer our clients access to the right test at the right time for the right information.