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:
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A drug test can check for a single drug or for a group of drugs in your body. Drug tests commonly test for:
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:
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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:
Drug testing may be scheduled ahead of time or done randomly without notice.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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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:
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
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:
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.
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.
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