Expanded opioid panel available

Posted on August 3, 2017 by ExamOne

As prescription drug misuse has risen to epidemic proportions in both Canada and the United States, the focus is turning to semi-synthetic opioids. The opiate screen presently included in the full drug panels only detects codeine, morphine and heroin. ExamOne is now offering an expanded opioid panel to include a number of semi-synthetic opiates.

Drug overdose deaths and opioid-involved deaths continue to increase in Canada. Approximately 50% of drug overdose deaths now involve an opioid. National statistics report 2,458 apparent opioid-related deaths in 2016 or 8.8 deaths per 100,000 population¹. Rates in Western Canada are the highest at 10.0 per 100,000.  Although Canada-wide data on trends of opioid-related deaths is lacking, there is general consensus that the number of opioid-related deaths across the country is on the increase². Data from British Columbia show a 50% increase in opioid-related deaths between May 2016 and May 2017³.

For the last three decades, ExamOne has offered two main options (see below tables) for full urine drug screens to help insurers identify risk in the insurance population.

This new product will detect semi-synthetic opioid use and will include the following drugs: codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone and heroin. As with all drug testing, positive screens will be confirmed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (gc/ms).

If you have any questions regarding this new panel, please contact Betsy Sears, Executive Vice President Laboratory Strategy and Sales at 913.577.1306  or email Betsy.R.Sears@ExamOne.com. For pricing questions pricing, please contact your Strategic Account Executive.