5 Things to Know Before Buying Drug Of Abuse Tests

21 Jul.,2025

 

Drugs of Abuse Home Use Test - FDA

What do these tests do? These tests indicate if one or more prescription or illegal drugs are present in urine. These tests detect the presence of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, amphetamines, PCP, benzodiazepine, barbiturates, methadone, tricyclic antidepressants, ecstasy, and oxycodone.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Accu-Tell.

The testing is done in two steps. First, you do a quick at-home test. Second, if the test suggests that drugs may be present, you send the sample to a laboratory for additional testing.

What are drugs of abuse? Drugs of abuse are illegal or prescription medicines (for example, Oxycodone or Valium) that are taken for a non-medical purpose. Non-medical purposes for a prescription drug include taking the medication for longer than your doctor prescribed it for or for a purpose other than what the doctor prescribed it for. Medications are not drugs of abuse if they are taken according to your doctor’s instructions.

What type of test are these? They are qualitative tests -- you find out if a particular drug may be in the urine, but not how much is present.

When should you do these tests? You should use these tests when you think someone might be abusing prescription or illegal drugs. If you are worried about a specific drug, make sure to check the label to confirm that this test is designed to detect the drug you are looking for.

How accurate are these tests? The at-home testing part of this test is fairly sensitive to the presence of drugs in the urine. This means that if drugs are present, you will usually get a preliminary (or presumptive) positive test result. If you get a preliminary positive result, you should send the urine sample to the laboratory for a second test.

It is very important to send the urine sample to the laboratory to confirm a positive at-home result because certain foods, food supplements, beverages, or medicines can affect the results of at-home tests. Laboratory tests are the most reliable way to confirm drugs of abuse.

Many things can affect the accuracy of these tests, including (but not limited to):

  • the way you did the test
  • the way you stored the test or urine
  • what the person ate or drank before taking the test
  • any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs the person may have taken before the test

Note that a result showing the presence of an amphetamine should be considered carefully, even when this result is confirmed in the laboratory testing. Some over-the-counter medications will produce the same test results as illegally-abused amphetamines.

Does a positive test mean that you found drugs of abuse? No. Take no serious actions until you get the laboratory's result. Remember that many factors may cause a false positive result in the home test.

Remember that a positive test for a prescription drug does not mean that a person is abusing the drug, because there is no way for the test to indicate acceptable levels compared to abusive levels of prescribed drugs.

If the test results are negative, can you be sure that the person you tested did not abuse drugs? No. No drug test of this type is 100% accurate. There are several factors that can make the test results negative even though the person is abusing drugs. First, you may have tested for the wrong drugs. Or, you may not have tested the urine when it contained drugs. It takes time for drugs to appear in the urine after a person takes them, and they do not stay in the urine indefinitely; you may have collected the urine too late or too soon. It is also possible that the chemicals in the test went bad because they were stored incorrectly or they passed their expiration date.

If you get a negative test result, but still suspect that someone is abusing drugs, you can test again at a later time. Talk to your doctor if you need more help deciding what steps to take next.

How soon after a person takes drugs, will they show up in a drug test? And how long after a person takes drugs, will they continue to show up in a drug test? The drug clearance rate tells how soon a person may have a positive test after taking a particular drug. It also tells how long the person may continue to test positive after the last time he or she took the drug. Clearance rates for common drugs of abuse are given below. These are only guidelines, however, and the times can vary significantly from these estimates based on how long the person has been taking the drug, the amount of drug they use, or the person's metabolism.

How do you do a drugs of abuse test?

These tests usually contain a sample collection cup, the drug test (it may be test strips, a test card, a test cassette, or other method for testing the urine), and an instruction leaflet or booklet. It is very important that the person doing the test reads and understands the instructions first, before even collecting the sample. This is important because with most test kits, the result must be visually read within a certain number of minutes after the test is started.

You collect urine in the sample collection cup and test it according to the instructions. If the test indicates the preliminary presence of one or more drugs, the sample should be sent to a laboratory where a more specific chemical test will be used order to obtain a final result. Some home use kits have a shipping container and pre-addressed mailer in them. If you have questions about using these tests, or the results that you are getting, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Useful Links:

Drug Testing: MedlinePlus Medical Test

Drug Testing

What is a drug test?

Drugs are chemical substances that can change how your body and mind work. A drug test looks for signs of one or more illegal drugs or certain prescription medicines that can be misused. The test is usually done with a sample of your urine (pee). Less commonly, drug testing uses a sample of your blood, saliva (spit), hair, sweat, fingernails, or breath. The purpose of a drug test is to look for drug use and misuse, which includes:

  • Using any illegal drugs, such as cocaine or club drugs.
  • Misusing prescription medicines, which means taking prescription medicines in a different way than you are supposed to. This can include crushing or snorting tablets, taking more than the prescribed dose, or taking it more often than prescribed. It also includes taking the medicines for a nonmedical purpose, such as to get high. Examples of drug misuse include using a prescription pain reliever to relax or taking someone else's prescription.

A drug test can check for a single drug or for a group of drugs in your body. Drug tests commonly test for:

  • Alcohol
  • Amphetamines, such as methamphetamine and Ecstasy (MDMA)
  • Barbiturates, such as phenobarbital and secobarbital
  • Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam or clonazepam
  • Cocaine
  • Marijuana (cannabis, THC)
  • Opioids and opiates, such as heroin, codeine, oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone, and fentanyl
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)
  • Anabolic steroids

Drug tests can find signs of drugs that you took hours to several days or more before the test. How long a drug lasts in your body depends on:

  • The type of drug
  • How much you used
  • How long you were using it before the test
  • How your body reacts to the drug

Other names: drug screen, drug test, drugs of abuse testing, substance abuse testing, toxicology screen, tox screen, sports doping tests

Want more information on Drug Of Abuse Tests? Feel free to contact us.

What is it used for?

Drug testing is used to find out whether you have been using or misusing one or more drugs but can't diagnose a drug use disorder (addiction).

A drug test may be used for different purposes, including:

  • Employment. Employers may require that you pass a drug test before they will hire you. The testing may be part of a drug-free workplace program. After you're hired, they may test you to check for on-the-job drug use. If you have a work accident, you may be tested to see whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
  • Sports. Professional and other athletes are often tested for drugs that are used to improve performance, such as anabolic steroids that help build muscle.
  • Substance use disorder treatment. Drug testing may be used to monitor treatment in programs for drug or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
  • Legal evidence. Testing may be part of a criminal or motor vehicle accident investigation. Drug screening may also be ordered as part of a court case.
  • To prevent prescription drug misuse. If you take a prescription medicine that can be addictive, such as opioids for chronic (long-term) pain, your provider may order a drug test to make sure you're taking the medicine correctly.

Drug testing may be scheduled ahead of time or done randomly without notice.

Why do I need a drug test?

You may be asked to take a drug test for a job, to participate in certain organized sports, or as part of a police investigation or court case. In a hospital emergency room, a health care provider may order a drug test if you have signs of a possible drug overdose. Newborns can also be tested for possible prenatal exposure to illegal drugs.

What happens during a drug test?

Drug testing may be done in many different locations, including labs, hospitals, drug treatment centers, and workplaces.

Urine is the most commonly used sample for drug testing. You will be given instructions for how to collect your sample. In certain cases, a health care professional or other person may need to be present while you provide your sample. This is to make sure the urine is yours and isn't contaminated with anything that might affect the test results.

If a blood sample is used to test for drugs, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

Be sure to tell the testing professional if you are taking any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, or supplements, because these substances may affect your test results. Also, you should avoid foods with poppy seeds, which can show up as opiates in a drug test.

Are there any risks to the test?

There are no known physical risks to having a drug test. But if drugs show up in your results, it may affect your job, your eligibility to play sports, the outcome of a legal matter, or other parts of your life.

Before you take a drug test, make sure you know:

  • What you are being tested for
  • Why you are being tested
  • How the results will be used

If you have questions or concerns about a drug test, talk with your provider or the person or organization that is asking for the test.

What do the results mean?

If a drug test result is positive, it means that one or more drugs were found in amounts that suggest drug use or misuse. If you have a positive test result, you'll usually have a follow-up test to make sure the first test was correct. That's because the type of urine testing that's often done first can have false positive results.

A false positive means that the test showed you had a drug in your sample when it really wasn't there. False positives can happen if the test reacts with other chemicals in your body from certain over-the-counter medicines, prescriptions, and foods.

The follow-up drug test after a false positive result is called a confirmatory test. It is a more sensitive test that provides more accurate results.

If a drug test result is negative, it means that either:

  • The drugs that were tested were not found in your sample.
  • A very small amount of drugs was found, but not enough to count as a positive test result for drugs.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

Is there anything else I need to know about a drug test?

If you test positive for a legal drug prescribed by your provider, your employer can't punish you, unless the drug is affecting your ability to perform your job.

If you test positive for marijuana and live in a state where it is legal, employers may still be able to punish you in some states. Employers may do this because they want a drug-free workplace. Also, marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

You can buy home tests for many illegal and prescription drugs. There are two types of tests:

  • At-home tests let you do the entire test at home and get rapid results. But if the test result is positive for drugs, you'll need to have a follow-up lab test to check the accuracy of the result. Before you buy an at-home test, check to see if it includes a kit for collecting a sample, often urine or saliva, to send to a lab in case the home test is positive.
  • A self-collection test has a kit for gathering urine, saliva, or another type of sample to send to a lab for testing. The price of some self-collection tests includes the cost of a follow-up lab test to check the accuracy of the test if it has positive results.

When using home tests, be careful to follow all the instructions. It's best to talk with your provider about using home drug testing so you can decide if it's right for your situation.

References

  1. Cleveland Clinic: Health Library: Diagnostics & Testing [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c. Blood Tests; [reviewed Dec 06; cited Nov 11]; [about 16 screens]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/-blood-tests
  2. FDA: US Food and Drug Administration [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Drugs of Abuse Home Use Test; [current as of Sep 27; cited Nov 13]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/drugs-abuse-tests/drugs-abuse-home-use-test
  3. Drugs.com [Internet]. Drugs.com; c-. Drug Testing FAQs [updated Jun 10; cited Nov 13]; [about 11 screens]. Available from: https://www.drugs.com/article/drug-testing.html
  4. Merck Manual Professional Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co., Inc.; c. Drug Testing [reviewed Dec; cited Nov 13]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/special-subjects/illicit-drugs-and-intoxicants/drug-testing
  5. National Institute on Drug Abuse [Internet]. Gaithersburg [MD]: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Drug Testing; Nov [cited: Nov 13]; [about 12 screens]. Available from: https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/drug-testing#drug-testing
  6. Nemours KidsHealth [Internet]. Jacksonville (FL): The Nemours Foundation; c-. Getting a Blood Test; [reviewed Sep; cited Nov 11]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/blood-tests.html
  7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [Internet]. Rockville (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Drug Testing Resources [updated Jul 19; cited Nov 13]; [about 8 screens]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/drug-free-workplace/drug-testing-resources
  8. Testing.com [Internet]. Seattle (WA): OneCare Media; c. 10-Panel Drug Test; [modified Sep 26; cited Nov 13]; [about 11 screens]. Available from: https://www.testing.com/tests/10-panel-drug-testing/
  9. Testing.com [Internet]. Seattle (WA): OneCare Media; c. The Best At-Home Drug Tests of ; [modified Aug 14; cited Nov 13]; [about 29 screens]. Available from: https://www.testing.com/tests/at-home-drug-test/
  10. Testing.com [Internet]. Seattle (WA): OneCare Media; c. Drug Testing; [modified Aug 4; cited Nov 13]; [about 9 screens]. Available from: https://www.testing.com/drug-testing/
  11. Testing.com [Internet]. Seattle (WA): OneCare Media; c. Urine Drug Tests; [modified Feb 2; cited Nov 13]; [about 16 screens]. Available from: https://www.testing.com/tests/urine-drug-test/
  12. Workplace Fairness [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): Workplace Fairness; c. Drug Testing; [cited Nov 13]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: https://www.workplacefairness.org/drug-testing-workplace

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

The company is the world’s best HAV Rapid Test supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.