title: [Uniform analyzes of drugs in urine needed for rule of law].
abstract: Drugs of abuse testing is used in various areas of society for detection and follow-up of drug use. In routine laboratory drug testing, immunoassays are employed for initial screening of specimens to indicate the presence of drugs. To confirm a positive screening test, a secondary analysis by mass spectrometry is performed. The "cut-off" is the pre-defined concentration threshold of a drug or drug metabolite above which the sample is considered positive. A reading below this level implies a negative test result. Swedish drug testing laboratories currently employ varying cut-offs to distinguish between a positive and a negative test result. Because a positive drug test may have serious legal consequences to the individual, it is of importance that testing is performed and judged equally, regardless of where it is performed. A national harmonization of cut-offs is therefore warranted. Based on data from four major Swedish drug testing laboratories, and considering the recommendations in international guidelines, a proposal for national harmonization of urine cut-offs for the most common set of drugs of abuse is presented.
authors.affiliation: Region Skåne, Medicinsk service - Labmedicin, Klinisk kemi Lund, Sweden Region Skåne, Medicinsk service - Labmedicin, Klinisk kemi Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet - Labmed Stockholm, Sweden Karolinska Institutet - Labmed Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Helander
authors.affiliation: Institutionen för laboratoriemedicin, Karolinska Institutet - Karolinska Universitetslaboratoriet Stockholm, Sweden Institutionen för laboratoriemedicin, Karolinska Institutet - Karolinska Universitetslaboratoriet Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Olof
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset - Klinisk kemi Göteborg, Sweden Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset - Klinisk kemi Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmgren
authors.affiliation: Institutionen för medicin och hälsa, Linköpings Universitet - Rättsmedicinalverket, Avd. för Rättsgenetik och Rättskemi Linköping, Sweden Rättsmedicinalverket - And. för rättsgenetik och Rättskemi Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kugelberg
authors.affiliation: Institutionen för medicin och hälsa, Linköpings Universitet - Rättsmedicinalverket, Avd. för Rättsgenetik och Rättskemi Linköping, Sweden Rättsmedicinalverket - Avd. för rättsgenetik och Rättskemi Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kronstrand
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000652:urine; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000652:urine; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000652:urine; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000652:urine; D003042:Cocaine / Q000652:urine; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012016:Reference Values; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013548:Sweden; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002186:Cannabinoids; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine