A testing partner for clinicians and programs

Why refer testing out

Plenty of clinicians want objective data on a client’s use but do not want to collect samples in the office. Running collections takes space and staff time, and it can put strain on the relationship you are trying to build in session. Handing testing to an outside partner keeps your role clean: you treat, we test, and the client knows both of us are on the same side.

Clinical guidance supports using drug testing as one tool among several. The American Society of Addiction Medicine publishes guidance on the appropriate use of drug testing in addiction care and a policy statement on using it ethically (ASAM guideline; ASAM policy statement). NIDA likewise notes that results should not be the sole basis for care decisions (NIDA). We see our job the same way: give you reliable information quickly, and leave the clinical judgment with you.

Who refers to us

• Therapists and counselors in private practice
• Psychiatrists and other prescribers
• Outpatient and intensive outpatient programs
• Residential programs planning step-down and aftercare
• Case managers and interventionists

How a referral works

1. Call us or have your client call. We take the basics and talk through what you want testing to answer. See how to refer a client for what to send.
2. Written authorization. Your client signs an authorization naming you, and anyone else they choose, to receive results. Nothing is shared with anyone who is not on it.
3. A plan set case by case. We set frequency and test types with you and your client: an instant 12 panel urine cup covering common substances such as opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines and cannabis, breath alcohol, EtG for recent drinking, and saliva on request.
4. Random notices. Your client receives an electronic notice when to report for testing, by appointment at our office at 12326 Venice Blvd, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, or at other Blackburn locations on the Westside outside those hours. Mobile testing is available for an additional fee.
5. Results to you, quickly. You receive results in real time as authorized. Positive screens can be sent to a partner laboratory for confirmation, and we let you know the outcome.
6. A coordinator who knows the client. If something looks off, a missed test or a pattern, the coordinator can call you rather than leave you to find it in a report.

What you can count on

• Speed. Instant screens mean you often know the same day, so you can adjust care early instead of weeks later.
• Accuracy safeguards. Observed, scheduled collection and partner laboratory confirmation of positives. See how positives are confirmed.
• Chain of custody documentation when a client’s situation calls for it.
• Medication awareness. We ask clients to disclose prescriptions and over-the-counter products before testing, and we are glad to know what you expect to see in a client’s results.
• Flexibility. Frequency can step up after a lapse and step down as a client stabilizes. Tell us and we adjust.
• Low cost for the client. Affordability keeps clients testing long enough for the data to be useful. Cost depends on frequency, test types, lab confirmation and mobile collection; see what affects cost.

Alcohol monitoring that looks back further

Breath tests only show alcohol in the system at the moment of testing. For clients whose primary concern is drinking, EtG urine testing can show drinking over a period of days. Interpretation matters: research on EtG cutoffs in treatment populations (Lowe et al., 2015) and a SAMHSA advisory on alcohol biomarkers (summary) both support reading biomarker results alongside clinical interviews and self-report. Incidental exposure from products such as hand sanitizer and mouthwash can also produce detectable EtG (Mayo Clinic Laboratories). More on the EtG alcohol test.

Your client stays your client

We are a testing and monitoring service. We do not diagnose, and we are not trying to take over care. When a client needs more than you can offer, such as a higher level of care, a structured place to live, psychiatric support or mentoring between sessions, we can help connect them, and we keep you in the loop when your client has authorized it.

We do not perform DOT regulated testing. If your client’s situation falls under federal DOT rules (49 CFR Part 40), that testing needs to happen through a DOT program.

For the full process from the client’s side, see how monitoring works and our ongoing monitoring program.

Need more than testing?

When testing shows a client needs more, Blackburn has a continuum of Los Angeles programs your client can step into.

• Therapy and psychiatry

  Psychiatric care and therapy in Los Angeles, for clients who need prescriber support or a higher level of care.

  Blackburn Clinical Services

• Sober living

  Sober living and sober apartments in West Los Angeles, for when a structured place to live would make the next stretch easier.

  Blackburn Recovery Services

• Mentoring

  One-on-one mentoring for accountability and structure between your sessions.

  Blackburn Mentoring

• Scholarship help

  Treatment scholarships through our nonprofit, for people who need care and cannot cover the full cost on their own.

  The Blackburn Foundation

Your monitoring coordinator can make the introduction.