Perinatal toxicology screening

Accurate identification of substance abusing mothers and their infants is critical for appropriate medical management as well as the collection of accurate information on the effects of illicit drug use on perinatal morbidity, mortality, and long-term neurobehavioral outcome in the infants. This study examines the differences found using two methods for urine toxicology screening at the time of obstetrical admission to the hospital. The institution of universal screening identified significantly more women than were previously identified through the use of a risk-directed protocol (P less than .0001). Women identified using either protocol were significantly more likely than toxicology-negative women to have had poor prenatal care and to have smoked and used alcohol during pregnancy (P less than .001). In the population studied, the multiple criteria needed to accurately identify mothers with positive-toxicology screens would also include screening over one half of the toxicology-negative mothers.