A laboratory surveillance analysis classified some detections as nonprescribed. That classification required clinical information beyond the analytical result itself.
The study evaluated submitted urine specimens during 2014–2019 using mass spectrometry. Methamphetamine trends and co-positivity with several other drug groups, including benzodiazepines, were compared across regions and time.
Patients came from healthcare settings, with changing demographics and clinical specialties across the study period.
Mass spectrometry can identify an analyte without establishing whether a valid prescription existed. An incomplete or inaccurate medication list can misclassify expected prescribed findings as nonprescribed.
The authors recognized this limitation, as well as convenience sampling. Co-positivity also does not establish simultaneous peak effects or impairment at an earlier incident. The paper supports near-real-time exposure surveillance, but cannot determine misuse, a drug’s source, or an individual combination’s clinical effect from the urine result alone.
Original analysis of the supplied journal article, identified as PMC8489833.