Toxicology & Pain Management

Urine Drug Screening (UDS)

Urine drug screening is the first step in toxicology testing. TriCore uses high‑quality immunoassays that detect groups of drugs with similar chemical structures, offering rapid, cost‑effective insights.

In this test, antibodies in the immunoassay attach to drugs in the patient’s urine and create a signal when the drug is present. Results are typically reported as “positive” or “negative” for a drug class. However, because UDS detects drug classes rather than individual drugs, results may sometimes show false positives, such as those triggered by certain medications or foods, even if a specific drug is not found.

Urine Drug Confirmation

TriCore’s confirmatory testing uses mass spectrometry, one of the most advanced and accurate technologies available in laboratory medicine.

This method identifies specific drugs rather than broad categories, reducing concerns about false positives. The specific identification of the drug and, in some cases, its metabolites can be essential for clinical decision-making or pain management programs. Typically, confirmatory testing is performed after a positive screen.

Pain Management Testing

For patients receiving pain management treatment, TriCore often recommends moving directly to confirmatory testing for the specific drug required. This ensures a high level of accuracy when monitoring prescribed medications and helps providers manage treatment safely and responsibly.

Mass spectrometry drug testing is typically more sensitive than immunoassay drug screens, reducing concerns about false negative results. This allows providers to check adherence to prescribed medications, detect potential misuse or diversion of medications, and provides reliable data to providers and patients to guide ongoing pain management strategies.