We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App





Opioid Drug Abuse Testing Key Topic at Congress

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 08 Jun 2017
Development of new diagnostic procedures for opioid drugs and augmenting communication pathways between laboratory, clinician, and patient are important topics that will be addressed at the July 30 to August 3, 2017, AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo (San Diego, CA, USA).

In the United States - according to data reported in the December 2016 issue of the journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - opioids accounted for more than two-thirds of all drug overdose deaths in 2015, 15.6% more than the previous year, and drug overdose deaths nearly tripled between 1999 and 2014.

While official agencies and medical groups recommend clinical laboratory tests to support efforts aimed at curbing opioid drug abuse, many physicians may not be fully equipped with the knowledge required to interpret this test data for their patients. More...
To help in this regard, nationally recognized centers, such as the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA) have entered the limelight.

Physician requests for assistance in interpreting pain management tests at the Mayo Clinic increased after the [U.S.] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA, USA) issued guidelines in March 2016 recommending urine drug testing before starting patients on opioid therapy and for monitoring them afterward. This guideline and others are driving the testing, but also leading to more confusion in terms of which type of laboratory tests to use - for example, immunoassays versus definitive methods - which specific tests to include, the frequency, and how to interpret those tests.

To help out, the Mayo Clinic now deploys many tools to help providers navigate the nuances of drug testing. Mayo’s online test catalog includes a primer on interpreting drug tests for compliance, along with short “hot topic” videos and other online educational tools.

Other institutions are also rising to the challenge. Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN, USA) for example, now makes it possible for physicians to request interpretative services at the time they order a test.

In response to the opioid crisis, discussions at the AACC Annual Meeting will emphasize that clinical labs and their physician clients need to work together to stay abreast of drug testing needs in their local communities.

Related Links:
AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo
Mayo Clinic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vanderbilt University

Gold Member
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® Patented HydraFlock®
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
cDNA Synthesis Kit
Ultimate cDNA Synthesis Kit
New
Silver Member
Luteinizing Hormone Test
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Rapid Test
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Non-coding RNAs CBR3-AS1 and PCA3 can be utilized as therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers in gastric cancer (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Promising Molecular Markers Support Earlier Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer

Late detection continues to make gastric cancer one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally. With improved early detection tools urgently needed, researchers have now identified two long... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The tip optofluidic immunoassay platform enables rapid, multiplexed antibody profiling using only 1 μL of fingertip blood (Photo courtesy of hLife, DOI:10.1016/j.hlife.2025.04.005)

POC Diagnostic Platform Performs Immune Analysis Using One Drop of Fingertip Blood

As new COVID-19 variants continue to emerge and individuals accumulate complex histories of vaccination and infection, there is an urgent need for diagnostic tools that can quickly and accurately assess... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The new technology combines a rapid hemoglobin test with a smartphone app (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Smartphone-Based Rapid Hemoglobin Test Accurately Detects Colorectal Cancer

Despite the availability of colorectal cancer screening programs, participation remains low, especially for fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), a non-invasive method to detect hidden blood in the stool.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The machine learning-based method delivers near-perfect survival estimates for PAC patients (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

AI Method Predicts Overall Survival Rate of Prostate Cancer Patients

Prostate adenocarcinoma (PAC) accounts for 99% of prostate cancer diagnoses and is the second most common cancer in men globally after skin cancer. With more than 3.3 million men in the United States diagnosed... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.