Dr. Heit Discusses the Limitations of Urine Drug Testing

Howard A. Heit, MD, FACP, FASAM, Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Diplomate in Addiction Medicine, Certified Medical Review Officer, Chronic Pain Specialist, Assistant Clinical Professor, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, discusses the limitations of urine drug testing.

Dr. Heit says all diagnostic tests have their strengths and their limitations. He stresses that a urine drug test does not diagnose addiction, physical dependence, or impairment. By using the nanograms or the concentration of the drug in the urine, a physician cannot tell whether a patient has been taking the medicine as prescribed.
 
Dr. Heit says the physician must know the strengths and limitations of any diagnostic test used in a clinical practice, especially urine drug tests.