Is on-site urine testing of therapeutic value in a methadone treatment program?
Patients in a methadone maintenance clinic were randomly assigned to two groups: one to have urine tests on-site (by the EMIT system) with immediate feedback of results to patients and staff; the other to have urine specimens sent away to an offsite laboratory for testing by thin-layer chromatography. Although other advantages might justify the adoption of on-site testing in methadone programs, the method appeared to have little or no therapeutic advantage over customary off-site testing. There were negligibly small differences between the groups with respect to illicit drug use.
D000328:Adult; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000652:urine*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013997:Time Factors
D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone