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From: Philbert Chen, MD
Date: 20 Oct 2004
Time: 18:59:36 -0700
Remote Name: 68.166.234.124
Thank you Dr Swotinsky for your usual thorough reply. My last comment about the follow-up tests was meant in the following context: Would it not be better for the SAP to order whatever tests he thought were helpful, during the period he is evaluating and providing treatment recommendations for the patient, rather than have the MRO involved. My distinction is that the initial test is for the purpose of determining "presence of the drug above cutoff levels", a + or - test. If the SAP wanted further testing including quantitation levels, to see a trend (of decreasing levels of a longer acting drug) DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD (not after return to work), the SAP could then order those tests, SEPARATE FROM THE INITIAL DOT TESTING PROCESS. (I guess i missused the word "follow-up" testing in the initial post.) I hope this makes some logical sense.