Drug Screening
Employment, DOT, Legal requirements, Medication Compliance
How does drug testing work?
Drug tests detect drugs or their metabolized byproducts in urine, hair, saliva, or blood. They generally look for common drugs like THC, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, and alcohol. Detection times vary by test type and substance.
Types of Testing
Urine screening is a non-invasive method used to detect recent drug use, typically within the past 1 to 3 days, though some substances like marijuana can be detected longer.
Urine alcohol screening can be added to the drug screening.
How to Prepare
Medications: Inform the testing professional of any prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements, as these can affect results.
Documentation: Bring a government-issued photo ID and any necessary paperwork.
Hydration Strategy: Drink normal amounts of water. Over-hydrating can lead to a "diluted" result, which may be rejected or require retesting.
Avoid Poppy Seeds: Avoid eating poppy seeds for 24-48 hours before the test, as they can lead to false positives for opiates.
Avoid Diuretics: Avoid excessive caffeine or other diuretics before the test.
How long will it take for Results
It will take between 24 - 72 business hours after the date of collection, for results to come back from analysis. If a drug has tested positive, it can take an additional 2-4 days for confirmation. This test will provide either a positive, negative, or inconclusive/invalid result.
Positive Result One or more of the drugs tested in this panel had a high enough concentration to be detected in urine.
Negative Result The drugs tested in this panel were either not found in high enough concentrations to be considered a positive result, or were not detected at all.
Inconclusive or Invalid Result The test was not successful in checking for the drugs.