All specimens should be screened for benzoylecgonine. Each week, one randomly selected specimen is screened for the presence of other abused drugs. Breath alcohol levels can also be assessed at the time urine specimens are collected. Patients and therapists should be informed of the urinalysis results as soon as possible after specimens are submitted. The schedule is designed to optimize the probability of detection of cocaine use.
Frequent testing allows detection of almost any use of cocaine.
However, it may also result in multiple positive tests from a single cocaine use episode. This possibility cannot be avoided. Inform patients about this possibility at the start of treatment. Providing information about multiple positives in the beginning of treatment will greatly reduce controversy over the results or the fairness of the voucher system. Specimen Collection Staff members who collect urine specimens need at least bachelors degrees and should have received special instruction for several weeks by a trained staff person in the collection and analysis of urine.