NCJ Number
141083
Date Published
1988
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This guide offers practical advice for establishing and operating a urinalysis program as part of a Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) project.
Abstract
By examining the issues, processes, and procedures involved in setting up a urine testing program, this monograph provides the foundation for a urinalysis project as part of a comprehensive case management program. The first section discusses general topics related to urinalysis including the relationship between drug use and crime, the role of urinalysis in a TASC program, and the potential uses and misuses of test results. The legal issues involved in urinalysis include the constitutionality of collecting samples, chain of custody, reliability and accuracy of the technology, court testimony, and testing of juveniles. The second section outlines the actual procedures involved in operating a urine testing program. A program administrator must first weigh the advantages of on-site versus external testing. Concerns regarding on-site testing relate to cost, staff selection and training, proficiency testing, and health and hygiene risks. Procedures for selecting an external laboratory are summarized, as are methods for collecting and handling specimens. 11 notes