Set the decision criteria
Start with the intended program workflow and the targets that have been approved for consideration. Decide what evidence is needed from product documentation, who will review the record, and what questions require qualified clinical or compliance input.
Do not choose solely by panel count, a product title, or a broad category. Those labels do not establish that a test meets every workflow, specimen, or documentation requirement.
Build a source-based comparison
For each product, record the SKU, analytes shown in the item record, configuration and cutoff wording, specimen type, package details, and the date/source of supporting instructions. Preserve the exact cutoff text and ask for clarification if it is incomplete or conflicts with the analyte list.
Verify any claimed classification for the exact product and the specific setting. Never transfer a designation from another item in the assortment.
Plan implementation carefully
After a product has been selected, staff training and local procedures should use its current manufacturer instructions and the organization’s own policy. Document limitations and how questions are escalated so a screening result is not presented outside its established context.
This educational guide supports supply evaluation only. It does not determine whether testing is appropriate for an individual or prescribe a behavioral-health intervention.