During each of the last three years more than 100,000 people have died from drug overdoses in the United States. During this same time period, there has been a significant increase in patients suffering from mental health conditions. Today in

Limitations of point-of-care testing

May 24th, 2023 22m 24s

Drug testing plays a critical role in combating the drug misuse epidemic. There are 2 main methods of clinical drug testing: presumptive testing, which includes rapid point-of-care (POC) devices as well as more sensitive laboratory immunoassay

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) blood test - Now available from Quest Diagnostics

May 4th, 2023 11m 52s

Today’s episode is with Quest Diagnostics senior medical advisor, Dr Jeff Gudin, and Dr Jack Kain, director and medical science liaison for the Quest Drug Monitoring and Toxicology business.The podcast will cover:Overview of the new Phosphat

The CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain

Apr 7th, 2023 19m 49s

Welcome to the Quest Diagnostics “topics in drug testing” podcast. Today’s episode is with Quest Diagnostics senior medical advisor, Dr Jeff Gudin, and Dr Jack Kain, director and medical science liaison for the Quest Drug Monitoring and Toxico

Ketamine: a re-emergence in medicine and misuse?

Oct 31st, 2022 20m 10s

Learning objectives for the podcast include:Learn how ketamine is increasingly being used as an anesthetic, analgesic, antidepressant, …and a hallucinogen1Gain an understanding of the risks of ketamine use and ways it is misusedAppreciate t

Windows of Detection

Aug 4th, 2022 22m 56s

Objectives for the podcast include:Understand drug metabolism and how prescription and illicit drugs and their metabolites are eliminated from the bodyLearn about drug half-life and windows of detection, and how they are relatedGain a deepe

Contributing Factors to the Skyrocketing Drug Misuse Epidemic in the US

Mar 30th, 2022 23m 59s

Objectives for the podcast include:Hear results from the recent Quest Diagnostics Health Trends report which combines data from a Harris Poll survey of over 500 primary care physicians, with results of clinical drug laboratory testing perform

Fentanyl: A substance of great concern

Nov 3rd, 2021 25m 48s

Today’s podcast will cover a substance of great concern today, fentanyl. We will discuss and share information regarding the following:Latest trends in the drug misuse epidemic in the USWhat you need to know about fentanylWhy you need to co

Presumptive vs definitive drug testing: what you need to know

Aug 27th, 2021 23m 46s

Today’s podcast will cover the value of prescription and illicit drug testing and provide insight on the different clinical drug testing methodologies. We will discuss and share information regarding the following:Current state of the drug mis

Special Episode: Trends in drug testing resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic

Aug 27th, 2021 37m 49s

The convergence of the opioid epidemic and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created new healthcare challenges. Health systems, from a system- and individual clinician-level, are more important than ever in the pursuit of add

Pharmacogenomics in mental health and addiction

Jul 13th, 2021 30m 44s

Today’s podcast discussion will focus on clinical care for patients with mental health disorders. Will discuss and share information regarding:Mental health disorder and substance abuse prevalenceThe clinical utility of pharmacogenomics in me

Implementing a Drug Monitoring Protocol in your practice

Jun 3rd, 2021 19m 23s

Today’s podcast discussion will focus on appropriate steps to take to implement an effective Drug Monitoring Protocol in your practice. Key information shared will include:Some of the key challenges facing clinicians todayImportant steps to t

Alternative Specimen Collection Options

Apr 21st, 2021 17m 31s

Today’s podcast discussion will focus on the importance of drug monitoring and the benefits of “alternative” sample collection options during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key information shared will include:How clinical drug monitoring is a critical

The epidemic within the pandemic

Dec 23rd, 2020 24m 36s

Today’s podcast will share results of a recent Quest Diagnostics Health Trends™ publication, The Opioid Epidemic Within the COVID-19 Pandemic: Drug Monitoring in 2020, which was published in the October 2020 edition of Population Health Manage

Drug testing for stimulants

Dec 18th, 2020 29m 43s

Today’s podcast will cover drug testing for stimulants and will highlight some of the challenges in results interpretation for this class of drugs. Important information shared during the discussion will include:What is classified as a stimula

Drug Monitoring in Behavioral Health and during times of crisis

Oct 23rd, 2020 25m 50s

Today’s podcast will cover the role of clinical drug monitoring in Behavioral Health and during times of crisis. Important information shared will include:Mental Health disorders, diagnosis and prevalenceThe challenge of medication adherence

Drug Misuse in America

Aug 27th, 2020 20m 52s

Today’s podcast will cover key findings from the annual Quest Diagnostics Health Trends report, Drug Misuse in America. Some of the key topics shared will include:Summary of analysis of more than 4.4 million de-identified drug monitoring tests

Kratom: Identifying ”a drug of concern”

Aug 27th, 2020 20m 33s

Today’s podcast will cover testing for kratom, a drug of concern. Some of the key information shared will include:What is kratom?What is the chemical make-up?Kratom toxicity and side effectsTesting for kratomWhy testing is important?How

Why and when to use oral fluid testing

Apr 27th, 2020 27m 54s

Today's podcast will cover why and when to use oral fluid testing. Some key topics shared will include:What is oral fluid testing?Comparison of oral fluid testing to other methods of testingThe benefits of oral fluid testing?Some of the dru

Dangerous drug combinations

Apr 3rd, 2020 19m 12s

Today’s podcast will cover dangerous drug combinations and the role of clinical drug monitoring. Some of the key information that will be shared includes:What are dangerous drug combinationsWhat practitioners and the public need to know about

Screening for alcohol use in pain management and primary care: it’s about time

Mar 17th, 2020 18m 37s

The podcast will cover screening (drug testing) for alcohol use in pain management and primary care. Topics covered will include:Understand drug and alcohol misuse and abusePrevalence rates of alcohol use and misuse, and alcohol use disorders

Patients with substance use disorders in medication-assisted treatment (MAT)

Dec 31st, 2019 20m 52s

Today’s episode is on patients with substance use disorders in medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Some of the key points that will be covered include:What is medication-assisted treatmentWhat are the goals of an MAT treatment programMedica

Drug testing your patients for marijuana

Dec 10th, 2019 18m 51s

Today, we will be talking about marijuana and marijuana-based products in order to: Understand drug testing for marijuana, and why it’s importantExamine marijuana used in concert with controlled medications for pain or ADHDGive some general