UDS

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

UDS
Stands forUrine drug screen
Meanings2
CategoriesMedical

UDS has two meanings. It stands for Urine drug screen (laboratory test) or Urodynamic study (nephrology & urology).

Meanings of UDS at a glance

#UDS stands forContext
1Urine drug screenMedical › Laboratory Test
2Urodynamic studyMedical › Nephrology & Urology

1. Urine drug screen

Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations

Rapid immunoassay panel that checks urine for classes of drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, cannabinoids (THC), opiates and phencyclidine, with expanded panels adding benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, oxycodone, buprenorphine and fentanyl. Results are reported as positive or negative against set cutoffs.

Example: UDS positive for cocaine and THC; fentanyl screen negative.

A positive screen is presumptive; confirmation requires a more specific method such as gas or liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Standard opiate immunoassays detect morphine and codeine but often miss fentanyl, methadone, oxycodone and buprenorphine, which need separate assays. Federal workplace testing raised the opiate cutoff in 1998 partly so that poppy seeds would not trigger positives.

2. Urodynamic study

Medical · Nephrology & Urology Abbreviations

Set of tests measuring bladder storage and emptying, including uroflowmetry, filling cystometry and pressure-flow studies with catheters in the bladder and rectum. It is used before incontinence surgery, in neurogenic bladder and to distinguish obstruction from weak bladder contraction.

Example: UDS: detrusor overactivity at 180 mL, no stress leak; manage as OAB.

Video urodynamics adds fluoroscopy to show bladder shape and reflux during the study. Results identify detrusor overactivity, low compliance and bladder outlet obstruction. In toxicology and psychiatry UDS often means urine drug screen, so the ordering clinician's specialty usually clarifies it.

More laboratory test abbreviations

  • U&E – Urea and electrolytes
  • UA – Urinalysis
  • UACR – Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio
  • UCx – Urine culture
  • UPT – Urine pregnancy test
  • VBG – Venous blood gas
  • VDRL – Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test
  • VLDL – Very-low-density lipoprotein

See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →

More nephrology & urology abbreviations

  • TRUS – Transrectal ultrasound
  • TURBT – Transurethral resection of bladder tumor
  • TURP – Transurethral resection of the prostate
  • UC – Urothelial carcinoma
  • UPCR – Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio
  • UPJ – Ureteropelvic junction
  • URR – Urea reduction ratio
  • URS – Ureteroscopy

See all 71 nephrology & urology abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.