Storage of urine specimens in point of care (POC) urine drug testing cups reduces concentrations of many drugs

Background Many clinical toxicology laboratories receive urine specimens in urine cups that contain point of care (POC) drug testing strips. We conducted this study to evaluate the effect on the stability of commonly measured drugs in the clinical toxicology laboratory when urine is exposed to POC urine drug testing cups. Methods Drug free urine was spiked with 85 drugs that were measured by a validated liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) method after exposure to POC urine drug testing cups at ambient and 2–6 °C temperatures. Alterations ≥20% were defined as significant changes in the drugs concentration. Results Concentrations of amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine, fentanyl, fluoxetine, flunitrazepam, nortriptyline, paroxetine, and sertraline were significantly reduced when urine specimens were stored inside POC urine drug testing cups for 24 h at ambient temperature. Storage of urine in urine chemistry dipsticks reduced the concentration of several drugs. When spiked urine was exposed to an increasing number of POC urine drug testing strips, the concentrations of some drugs were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. The drugs that were absorbed by POC urine drug testing strips were partially back extracted from the strips. Conclusion Exposure of urine specimens to POC urine drug testing strips reduces the concentration of several drugs measured by LCMS method.