Urine Drug Tests

If you are looking for information on drug test detection times, please check out our helpful chart: Drug Test Detection Times Chart.

Urine drug testing is a fairly simple and easy to do process. All of these tests are FDA cleared and take no more than 5 minutes to perform.

We are pleased to carry tests that respond to the needs of today's employers and parents, such as a urine drug test that tests for Xanax, or one that tests for OxyContin. To read about Adderall drug testing for example, please read our blog article "The Dangers of Improper Adderall Use." If you have any questions about any of our tests, feel free to contact us to speak with a customer service representative.

Urine Drug Testing FAQ

What is the procedure?

The strips - Collect the specimen in any clean and dry container. Use your test strip as soon as possible after you have taken it out of the packaging. Put the test strip straight into the urine specimen so that the wavy line section on the strip is immersed (but don't dip the strip in past the wavy lines). Keep it in the specimen for 10-15 seconds. Then put the cap back on the test strip and lay the test on a flat surface. Colored lines should begin appearing. The results can be read after 5 minutes have passed, and are only accurate if a line shows up in the C region.

The iCups - The donor provides their urine specimen in the iCup and puts the lid back on the iCup. Read the temperature section of the cup between 2-4 minutes after collection to verify that the specimen is between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This indicates that the specimen is actually fresh. Then put the provided and filled out Security Seal over the cup. Pull off the drug test strip label. If your cup has an adulteration strip (as the 4 and 5 panel iCups do; the 10 panel iCup does not) pull that label off too and read the adulteration test results 2-5 minutes after the specimen was given. Read the drug test results 5 minutes after the specimen was given. The drug test results are only applicable if the C (Control) region has a line. This means the test is working successfully. After you read the results you can photocopy the panel. The results are stable for up to an hour after the specimen was donated.

How long does it take to perform the tests?

The whole process, from getting the urine sample to reading the results, should take no more than 10 minutes. You can read the results 5 minutes after you've used the test strip or collected the specimen in an iCup. That's why these are known as "rapid result" tests.

Are the tests reusable?

Unfortunately, each test can only be used one time.

How can I tell if the test is positive or negative for a drug?

We prepared a positive/negative drug test guide here ("What A Positive Drug Test Result Looks Like"). Basically, if any line shows up at all (even a faint line) in the T section of the test then the test is NEGATIVE for that drug. If you are looking at a THC test, for example, and you can't see anything in the T section, that means the test is positive for THC/marijuana.

Does it matter if the positive/negative line on the test is faint? Does the faintness indicate a greater or lesser quantity of the drug?

No, it does not matter if the line on the test is faint. If there is a line at all, no matter how faint, that means the test is negative for drug use and that the person has "passed." The faintness of the line does not indicate that someone has barely passed, or has almost enough of the drug in their system to fail. How strong or weak the line is not important at all.

How accurate are these tests?

All of the urine drug tests are about 97-98% accurate. Any variances in accuracy (99% instead of 97% or 96% instead of 98%) just reflect the vigorous testing that each of the individual urine drug screens were put through. They are all FDA cleared and accurate.

Are these GC-MS tests? What is GC-MS?

GC-MS stands for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our tests are not GC-MS tests. GC-MS is a more expensive and complicated laboratory process by which drugs are detected. If you have a positive (aka "non-negative") result on any of our urine drug tests, you should confirm that result with a lab method like GC-MS. Typically, if the result is negative on one of our urine drug tests, there is no need to seek out further testing, GC-MS or otherwise.

What sort of drugs don't show up on these urine drug test kits?

There are a few drugs that don't show up on these kits. Either the drugs don't show up due to lack of demand for such tests, or because research and development is currently producing instant screens for the drugs in question. The drugs our urine drug test line cannot test for at this time include: Soma (the muscle relaxant Carisoprodol), Tramadol, K2/Spice/synthetic cannabinoids, Magic Mushrooms, LSD, and Fentanyl. We also cannot test for Ambien (Zolpidem) at this time.

Soma and Tramadol, and possibly Fentanyl and mushrooms/LSD can be detected in certain drug analysis labs. For information on how to test for them we recommend you contact your doctor or local hospital to explore extensive local laboratory testing options. Spice/K2/synthetic cannabinoids can also be detected by most labs now, and there is also a mail-in lab test for Spice as well.

Do any of these kits test for alcohol use?

No, we do not carry a urine test for alcohol. The urine test for alcohol is known as an EtG test (Ethyl Glucuronide test). There is also an EtS test that screens for alcohol as well. These tests are sometimes used by parole officers and law enforcement to detect drinking hours or a few days after consumption. We only sell alcohol tests that detect whether someone currently has alcohol in their system. Please check out our alcohol test category on the left hand sidebar for more information.

How can you tell which exact drug someone has tested positive for (for example, is a positive on an oxycodone panel from OxyContin or Vicodin)?

If you have a positive result for something on your urine drug test, you should seek out laboratory confirmation to determine that it is not a false positive, and to determine the exact identity of the drug. A drug testing lab can tell the difference between Xanax and Valium, OxyContin and Vicodin, etc., whereas our instant screens cannot. This is the same process used by many employers across the United States – screen all applicants with an instant testing device like ours, and the send the positive results to a lab to see if they are truly positive and if the substances match what is prescribed by a doctor or are other than claimed.

What are the expiration dates for your tests?

Generally our tests expire about a year from the time of purchase. As of the summer of 2011, most of our tests expire in the summer or fall of 2012. If you would like exact dates for the test(s) you are wanting to order, please call us at 1-888-448-5657.

Do you have any options for drug testing for “legal highs,” such as K2/Spice/synthetic cannabinoids, incense, or bath salts?

Unfortunately, we do not offer any tests for the kind of stuff you can buy at head shops or incense stores. We cannot test for bath salts, Spice, K2 or substances similar to Spice and K2. We do offer a variety of tests for prescription drugs that can provide a high (Xanax, Valium, painkillers, etc.).

Though there are no instant screens available, laboratories have developed tests for synthetic marijuana and bath salts. To learn more about testing for bath salts contact Redwood Toxicology at 800-255-2159.

Can you take urine from a toilet?

No, using urine collected from a toilet will not work with these tests. The toilet water will dilute the urine to the point where the test won’t be able to pick up anything in it.

How much urine do you need?

For the dip tests, you only need to put part of the test in the collected urine. For that to work properly the urine has to be at least a half inch deep.

Do these tests come with consent forms?

No, our urine drug tests do not come with consent forms. If consent forms are necessary they must be provided by the person or organization testing. Our Legal Workplace Hair Drug Test Kit is the only drug test that comes with consent forms. If a consent form is necessary urgent care facilities or drug testing laboratories in your area may be able to provide such service.

Are these drug tests anonymous?

Yes. Our urine drug tests are entirely anonymous.

Can your urine tests hold up in court?

The results from our urine screens cannot be used in court. To have a urine test hold up in court you generally need the involvement of a laboratory and a Medical Review Officer. What is required varies by court, state, etc. Please consult your lawyer for specific advice.

What sort of advice do you have about making sure people don’t “beat” the test?

The best way to make sure someone does not beat a test is to have them take the test under highly supervised conditions. Our urine specimen cups come with a temperature strip that will roughly indicate whether the urine is fresh or not. We also sell the 4 panel iCup and 5 panel iCup, which allow you to test for indicators of urine specimen tampering or dilution. These can help you detect some of the major urine altering products available. For more information, please see our article "How To Catch Someone Trying To Pass A Drug Test."

Can these tests show the difference between prescribed levels of use as opposed to abuse? For example, I have a family member with a prescription but I am not sure if they are taking too many pills.

To get a positive on one of our urine drug screens, the sample just has to get over the hurdle of the detection level. It cannot tell the difference between someone who is testing positive on 3 pills and someone who is testing positive on 7 pills.

Almost all of our urine drug tests are designed to detect abuse levels. If someone is taking a medication as prescribed, they may not show as positive on one of our tests. The suboxone / buprenorphine test is designed to make sure people are taking their medicine though – its detection level is set low enough that it can help you track prescribed, aka therapeutic, use. Our suboxone tests are used by rehab clincs, for example.

Can I store these tests in the refrigerator or freezer?

No, we do not suggest you store them in a refrigerator or a freezer. They absolutely cannot be frozen. The tests must be kept between 2 and 30 degrees Celsius.

Can I store samples in the freezer?

Yes. For up to 48 hours before testing you can keep a specimen at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. If specimens are to be stored for longer than 2 days, they can be frozen and kept at temperatures below -20 Celsius. They should be thawed and mixed well after coming out of this type of freezing. If you have purchased a test with specimen validity detection (that detects specific gravity, oxidants, and pH, in our case the 4 or 5 panel iCup), you should test in the short term. Storage of urine specimens that are also having their validity tested should not exceed 2 hours at room temp or 4 hours refrigerated prior to testing.