Lab Interface: Urine Drug Testing (UDT/UDS)

Urine drug tests include two different types of tests:

• The first type of test produces “qualitative” or “presumptive” results; that is, the results indicate that the sample is positive or negative for specified classes of drugs. These tests can be performed under a certificate of waiver or a certificate of accreditation, depending on the equipment and the methodology used.
• The second type of test produces “quantitative” or “definitive” results; that is, the results indicate the specific substance or drug and the quantity of the substance or drug in the sample. The quantitative test is a more sophisticated test that requires the laboratory to use costly, high-complexity equipment. In order to perform these types of tests in a medical clinic, the clinic must possess a CLIA certificate of accreditation.

While UDTs and UDSs can play an important role in mental health and substance abuse treatment, a physician must make an individualized, patient-specific determination about the frequency of testing and the types of drugs to be tested in order for the testing to be considered medically necessary. 

Because the drug testing must be tailored to each patient’s particular medical needs, standard panels of tests and testing at set intervals (such as at every designated office visit) may not be considered medically necessary. Always follow your organization’s Policies and Procedures, and consult with your ordering Physician and Compliance officer.

Kipu allows you to create local profile templates with your lab’s test offerings*, where you can narrow down your ordering, and tailor it to each patient, for example:

• Comprehensive Intake Panel
• Alcohol and other sedatives
• Opiates and Opioids
• Stimulants
• Designer drugs
• Etc.

*To better understand the lab’s test offerings, please contact your lab representative.

You can also customize as many Statements of Medical Necessity (SOMN) as needed to better reflect the need for each order and avoid the appearance of cookie-cutter testing; for example:

• SOMN™ for Intake testing
• SOMN™ for Alcohol/sedative testing
• SOMN™ for Opiate/Opioid testing
• SOMN™ for Stimulant testing
• SOMN™ for Designer Drug testing
• Etc.

When receiving a lab result, following your Policies and Procedures, the ordering Physician may write a review note and will need to sign the result.

Note: For proper documentation, reinforcing the determination of medical necessity for the tests performed, and to support the test-performing party's ability to get reimbursed for the services provided, it is strongly suggested all Lab Results contain a review note.