Is On-Site Urine Testing of Therapeutic Value in a Methadone Treatment Program?

Abstract

Patients in a methadone maintenance clinic were randomly assigned to two groups: one to have urine tests on-site (by the Emit system) with immediate feedback of results to patients and staff; the other to have urine specimens sent away to an off-site laboratory for testing by thin-layer chromatography. Although other advantages might justify the adoption of on-site testing in methadone programs, the method appeared to have little or no therapeutic advantage over customary off-site testing. There were negligibly small differences between the groups with respect to illicit drug use.