| 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 offsite 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. |
