A nationwide survey of urinalysis practices of methadone maintenance clinics. Utilization of laboratory services.

Abstract

The urinalysis practices of 324 methadone maintenance clinics were surveyed by using a brief self-report questionnaire. Results indicated that there was a wide variability in collection practices and utilization of laboratory techniques. The most frequent collection schedules were monthly (40%) and weekly (32%). The most frequent laboratory techniques used for initial screening were thin-layer chromatography and enzyme immunoassay. Confirmatory testing by a second technique was used by 69% of the laboratories. The most popular confirmatory techniques used were thin-layer chromatography, enzyme immunoassay, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The geographic differences in urinalysis practices also were noted. The implications for drug abuse treatment were determined.