New Drug Outbreak Testing Service Offered by the Center for Substance Abuse Research
The Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) presents the Drug Outbreak Testing Service (DOTS), a one-year pilot study of the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS). DOTS seeks to identify the spectrum of substances involved in drug outbreaks in communities across the country through state-of-the-art urine testing that is unaffordable or unavailable in most localities. Each DOTS Bulletin is a concise report of test results of specimens obtained from drug treatment programs, medical examiners, and hospitals for epidemiologic purposes. DOTS provides the individual sites with statistical tables detailing the findings.
The DOTS pilot study supports local experts and public health agencies experiencing a drug outbreak to identify the drug(s) behind the outbreak by providing free urinalyses of specimens already obtained from affected persons.
Up to 20 de-identified urine specimens may be submitted to DOTS and will be sent to an independent laboratory for testing for approximately 240 licit and illicit drugs, including synthetic opioids and other new psychoactive substances. Results will be provided in aggregate form for epidemiologic purposes only. Results are not for clinical use or legal proceedings.
Send inquiries regarding participation to DOTS at: ndewsdots@umd.edu
For more information:
DOTS: Initial Studies Released
Issue 3 - King County Medical Examiner
New DOTS studies will be added in June and July.
Published on Fri, Jun 22, 2018 - 1:39PM