Use

This test is useful for screening and confirmation of drug abuse or use of buprenorphine. It begins with a screening immunoassay; if positive, a confirmation by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry is performed. The immunoassay has a screening cutoff of 5 ng/mL for buprenorphine and confirmation is triggered for buprenorphine ≥ 5 ng/mL or norbuprenorphine ≥ 2.5 ng/mL, supporting detection of recent use. It helps monitor compliance, detect misuse, or confirm therapeutic exposure consistent with substitution therapy or analgesic use.