Urine drug screens in the ED Johann Grundlingh
Key message Not helpful in the adult Emergency Department population. If you do use them then you have to also get a confirmatory test. The NPIS advises against the use of Urine drugs-of-abuse screening tests in the ED Summary of evidence:
References mentioned in the Podcast Kellerman AL et al. Impact of urine drug screening in suspected drug overdose. Ann Emerg Med 1987;16: Sugerman JM et al. Utility of toxicology screening in a paediatric emergency department. Paed Emerg Care 1997;13(3): Sporer KA et al. The effect of toxicological screening on management minimally symptomatic overdoses Am J Emerg Med 1992;10: Schiller MJ et al. Utility of routine drug screening in a psychiatric emergency setting. Psych Serv 2000;51(4):