The number of adolescent patients presenting to a single health system from 2014-2022 with opiate-related complaints increased. Over the same time period, positivity rates of urine drug screens (UDS) fell (from 2014 to 2019 were 82% ± 6% and from 2020 to 2022 were 5% ± 2% (P < 0.001)). What was the proposed reason for the poor sensitivity of the UDS?
The immunoassay used at that time was the Alinity C Assay (Abbott Laboratories; Abbott Park, Illinois). This particular product used antibodies to morphine, but not fentanyl or other novel synthetic opiates.
Sidlak, Alexander MD∗; Dhaliwal, Mannet BA†. Changes in Urine Drug Screen Sensitivity in Adolescent Opioid Presentations to the Emergency Department. Pediatric Emergency Care ():10.1097/PEC.0000000000003173, July 1, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000003173
Contributed by Kristine Nanagas, MD