Southwest · Opiate Screen and Confirmation, Urine
Opiate Screen and Confirmation, Urine in New Mexico
This page explains the opiate screen and confirmation, urine, what it measures, and how to order it. This test screens urine for opiates and then confirms any screen-positive result with a more specific method.
Lab requirements in New Mexico
Here is what you need before ordering and completing the Opiate Screen and Confirmation, Urine in NM. Review each item and confirm the details with the collection lab.
- Physician's order
- Included. A physician's order is required for lab testing and is provided for you by our partner's physicians — no referral from your own doctor is needed.
- Fasting
- Some tests require fasting or avoiding certain foods or drinks beforehand. You will be informed when you order — confirm the details with the collection lab.
- Preparation
- Preparation is generally minimal, but specific instructions can vary by collection site, so follow the lab's instructions. If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, tell the…
- Sample & visit
- A blood and/or urine sample is collected; the visit usually takes about 10 minutes.
- Identification
- Bring the lab requisition form from your account. The collection lab may also ask for a government-issued photo ID.
- Turnaround
- 1-3 business days
- Availability
- Our partner lab does not serve ND, RI, NY, NJ, MD or HI. Confirm availability for your location with the collection lab.
Before you go
- Order your test before visiting a lab, then use the requisition form in your account.
- Print the requisition form, or fax it to the lab directly from your account.
- No scheduling is needed — visit the collection lab during its normal business hours.
- A blood and/or urine sample is collected; the visit usually takes about 10 minutes.
- Bring a government-issued photo ID in case the lab requests it.
- Results are posted to your secure account within 1–3 business days.
Requirements are summarized from our partner lab's published policies. Preparation and availability can change — confirm current instructions with the collection lab before your visit.
What this test is
An opiate screen and confirmation urine test is a two-step laboratory process. An initial immunoassay screen checks broadly for opiate-class drugs, and any sample that screens positive is then re-tested using a more specific technique such as mass spectrometry to confirm the finding.
What it measures
- Opiate screen — A broad initial immunoassay that flags possible opiate-class compounds in urine.
- Opiate confirmation — A more specific follow-up method that verifies whether a screen-positive finding is truly present.
- Opiate class compounds — Natural and semi-synthetic opiates such as morphine and codeine that the test is designed to detect.
- Cutoff threshold — The lab-defined concentration above which a sample is considered screen positive.
What the test involves
The sample is collected as a standard urine specimen, typically in a private collection area at the laboratory or collection site. No needles or blood draws are involved, and the collection usually takes only a few minutes.
Why it is often ordered
A clinician may order this test to evaluate possible opiate exposure, to monitor a prescribed treatment plan, or as part of a broader drug testing panel. It is also used in some employment, legal, or safety-sensitive settings where objective laboratory documentation is needed.
Preparation
Preparation is generally minimal, but specific instructions can vary by collection site, so follow the lab's instructions. If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, tell the lab and your clinician, because some substances can affect results.
How results are reported
Results are reported as a screen result and, when applicable, a confirmation result, often with a qualitative positive or negative interpretation. Reference ranges and cutoff values vary by laboratory, so results should always be interpreted in the context of the performing lab's own reference information.
Before you go
- Whether any medications or supplements you take could affect the test
- The collection site's specific instructions for providing the urine sample
- How and when results will be shared with you or your clinician
Cities
Opiate Screen and Confirmation, Urine in New Mexico communities
Choose your city for local context and to order this test.