How do I use a drug test?
Single Tests: Dip the end of the test strip in urine for about 10 seconds, wait for the results.
Multi-Test Kits: Remove plastic end cap and dip the strips in urine for 10 seconds, wait for the results.
How Long can drugs stay in the body for urine tests?
For urine tests the approximate detection periods are:
Alcohol 12 – 24 hours
Amphetamine 2 – 3 days
Buprenorphine 2 – 3 days
Cannabis 2 – 7 days but up to one month for regular users
Cocaine 12 hours – 3 days
Diazepam 1 – 2 days
Ecstasy 2 – 4 days
Heroin 1 – 2 days
LSD 2 – 3 days
Methadone 2 days
Temazepam 1 – 2 days (longer after injecting)
The results from home testing kits are about 95% accurate. There can be false positives (a positive result where there is no drug use) and false negatives (a negative result where there has been drug use). If the subject has is taking prescription medication, the result may give a positive test. For example, some cold remedies and cough syrups could produce positive results for opioids and/or amphetamines.
Different Drugs Stay in Your System for Different Amounts of Time
The length of effects of different drugs vary greatly. For example, the high from LSD lasts 6 to 12 hours, but the high from cocaine lasts about 15-30 minutes. The same is true for how long a drug stays in the body’s systems, even after the effect has worn off. Some drugs will stay in your system for days; some months. How long a drug is detectable depends on a number of factors.
There are a variety of reasons that a drug test might need to be conducted such as probation, legal cases, custody, divorce, employee testing, and court-ordered testing. Additionally, many sporting officials require urine drug screens to check whether athletes have used performance-enhancing drugs.
There are different types of drug tests that are used depending on the goal of the test. These include urine, saliva, blood, hair, and perspiration. Urine testing is the most common because of its ease, affordability, and fast results. It is also the only testing method approved for federally-mandated testing. Urine testing can detect if a substance has been used in the past few days for most drugs.
Hair drug testing is very effective and almost impossible to cheat at, as the hair follicle from a person’s head is taken and sent to a laboratory to be tested. It can tell if someone has used most drugs for a significantly longer period, sometimes up to the past 90 days. Hair testing is also the most efficient for the purpose of detecting on-going or repetitive drug use, because if a person only uses a drug one time, they are less likely to show up as positive on a hair test. Hair tests are also efficient when used to draw comparative test results, to find out when a drug was used, how long it was used for, or to determine if drug use was discontinued. However, it is not good if the tester only wants short term results. It also has a longer turnaround time and is more expensive.
Factors That Determine How Long Drugs Stay in Your System
- Type of drug(s) used
- Amount of drug(s) used
- Frequency of use
- Hydration levels
- Body mass
- Physical activity
- Drug tolerance
- Metabolic rate
- Medical conditions that impact drug elimination
- The presence of other drugs or alcohol in the body
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Weight
- The drug’s half life
How Long Does Cannabis Stay in Your System?
Over 22 million Americans reported using marijuana in the past month, making it the most commonly used illicit drug. In many states it has been legalized for recreational and medicinal use, and many others have only legalized medical marijuana. However, there are still states across the country where marijuana is illegal, and employers or court systems may need to conduct a drug test.
Tests for marijuana are actually testing for the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that makes people feel high. The results of a drug test depend on many factors, including how much body fat a person has, how often someone smokes, and how much they smoke. First-time marijuana users are more likely to pass a drug test, compared to a person who smokes marijuana multiple times per week. The timeframe for detection depends on the drug test:
Cannabis (THC) | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 30 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 4 hours |
Saliva test |
Up to 72 hours |
How Long Do Opioid Drugs Stay in Your System?
Morphine | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 3 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 3 days |
Saliva test | Up to 3 days |
Codeine | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 3 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 24 hours |
Saliva test | Up to 4 days |
Fentanyl | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 3 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 2 days |
Heroin | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 3 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 6 hours |
Saliva test | Up to 1 hour |
Hydrocodone | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 4 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 24 hours |
Saliva test | Up to 36 hours |
Methadone | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 12 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 24 hours |
Saliva test | Up to 10 days |
Oxycodone | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 4 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 24 hours |
Saliva test | Up to 4 days |
Propoxyphene | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 10 days |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Tramadol | |
---|---|
Urine test | Up to 72 hours |
Hair test | Up to 90 days |
Blood test | Up to 48 hours |
Saliva test | Up to 48 hours |