Urine Drug Screen
Also written as: UDS — Urine Drug Screen
Laboratory test used to detect the presence of drugs or their metabolites in urine, commonly employed for treatment monitoring and compliance verification.
Full Definition
A diagnostic tool that analyzes urine samples to identify specific substances or their breakdown products, providing objective evidence of recent substance use. In addiction medicine, UDS results inform treatment decisions, monitor adherence to abstinence goals, and detect undisclosed substance use. The test can be qualitative (presence/absence) or quantitative (specific concentrations), with detection windows varying by substance type, frequency of use, and individual metabolism. Results must be interpreted within clinical context, considering factors like prescribed medications and potential false positives.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as UDS in clinical documentation. Editors should ensure consistent usage of either full term or abbreviation within documents.
In Context
- "The patient's urine drug screen came back positive for cocaine metabolites." — Laboratory report
- "Random urine drug screens are conducted weekly as part of the outpatient program protocol." — Treatment program guidelines