A urine drug test can detect both illegal and prescription drugs in a person’s system. Doctors, sports officials, and many employers require these tests regularly.
Urine tests are a common method of screening for drugs. They are painless, easy, quick, and cost-effective.
Signs of drug use can remain in a person’s system long after the physical effects wear off. The analysis can determine whether a person used specific drugs days or weeks before testing.
In this article, we take a close look at urine drug screens. We describe what they can detect and how long these substances remain traceable in urine.
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A doctor or trained technician usually performs a urine drug screening.
There are several types of these tests. An immunoassay (IA) test is most common because it is the quickest and most cost effective.
However, IA tests can give false-positive results. In this case, the results indicate the presence of a drug that the person has not used. False-negative results can also occur.
Another type can confirm the results of an IA test. This is called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A GC-MS test is more reliable than an IA test, and it can detect more substances.
Usually, people only request GC-MS tests as follow-ups because they are more expensive, and the results take longer.
Generic IA tests can show cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, cannabinoids, and PCP. A doctor may require a more specialized IA test to check for synthetic and semisynthetic opioids, such as methadone.
It is important to note that consuming certain legal substances can lead to false-positive IA test results. For example, consuming high enough quantities of dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in cough syrups, can cause a positive result for PCP on this type of test.
To minimize the risk of false positives, urine drug screens have cut-off levels. This means that a result is only positive when the test detects an amount of a drug that is above a certain level. Cut-offs also reduce the likelihood of testing positive due to only passive exposure to a drug. Secondhand smoke is one example of passive exposure.
Also, both IA and GC-MS tests can produce false-negative results. These fail to indicate recent drug use. A false-negative result can occur when urine is very diluted, for example.
Many factors can affect when a test can detect a certain drug. Some factors include:
Overall, the more frequently and heavily drug use occurs, the longer the drug will be detectable.
Below, for example, we show how long urine tests can detect cannabis.
Frequency of cannabis useDetection times after usesingle use2 days3 times a week2 weeksdaily use2-4 weeksheavy daily useup to 12 weeksOther typical drug detection ranges include:
DrugDetection times after usealcohol7–12 hoursamphetamines2–3 daysshort-acting benzodiazepines3–5 dayslong-acting benzodiazepinesup to 30 daysbuprenorphineup to 11 dayscocaine metabolites2–4 dayscodeine1–2 daysfentanyl2–3 daysheroin or morphine1–3 daysmethadone3–4 daysoxycodone1–3 daysThe test requires little preparation. Usually, a person just has to urinate into a plastic container and return the urine sample to the technician or doctor.
They then measure the temperature of the urine sample to make sure it is suitable for testing. They seal the sample in a plastic bag. If a person cannot return their sample to a medical professional within 1 hour, they should seal it in a plastic bag and store it in a refrigerator.
A technician may accompany the person to make sure that they are giving the sample correctly. The technician should explain the reason for this supervision.
It is important to note that certain medicines and supplements can cause false-positive results.
A person should tell the test provider if they are taking any:
Urine drug screen results usually come back within a few days or on the same day.
If a result is positive, a person may need to take a second test for confirmation. This may be a GC-MS test, which gives more accurate results.
The person who carried out the test or a medical review officer will explain the results.
A urine drug screen can quickly, effectively detect some illegal and prescription drugs. Doctors, sports officials, and employers may request this type of test for various reasons.
The screening can detect a range of substances, including cannabis, nicotine, barbiturates, and opioids such as heroin and methadone. Some remain traceable in the body longer than others.
If an initial result is positive, a person may need to take a second, more accurate test.
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