Patients treated with opioids for noncancer chronic pain are known to exhibit aberrant drug behaviors. The urine drug screen or UDS complements behavior monitoring as an objective means to assess patient compliance. UDS results can impact decisions related to a patient’s treatment, including discontinuation of opioid therapy or removal of the patient from the treatment program, explains Barbarajean Magnani, MD, PhD, FCAP, in this CAPcast interview.

Dr. Magnani, a renowned expert in toxicology, helped developed a Clinical Pathology Improvement Program or CPIP course on this topic (https://capatholo.gy/3cz90XA).