If you are screening for cannabis use, you will want to know which is the best cannabis drugs test. After all, you may be testing to check yourself, before an all important drugs test at work. Or you may have concerns about your child and are worried that they are being influenced into taking drugs by others.
Whatever your reason for testing, it is important that you use the best cannabis drug test for your situation. After all, the results of such a test can have life changing consequences.
The Importance of Accurate Cannabis Drug Testing
While cannabis may be legal for medical or recreational use in some areas, many employers, schools, sports organisations, and government agencies still require drug testing for cannabis. Inaccurate test results can have serious consequences – a false positive could cost someone their job or scholarships, while a false negative allows drug abuse to go undetected. That’s why it’s critical to choose a cannabis drug test that is reliable and precise.
When evaluating different testing methods, consider factors like sensitivity (the smallest concentration of THC the test can detect), specificity (ability to distinguish THC from other similar compounds), and the detection window (how long after use the test can detect cannabis). The best cannabis drug tests will have high ratings across all these measures.
So what are the best cannabis drug tests? We have selected four of the most popularly used drug tests that can all be used to give accurate drug testing results.
If the only drug you are wanting to detect is Cannabis, then you will always be best served when using a single drug test for cannabis. This will work out the cheapest way of testing ,which is a bonus if you are testing regularly. (This is often the case when parents employ these types of tests to check that their child is staying clear of drugs)
Multi Drug Test (Including Cannabis)
A multi-drug urine test is designed to screen for a number of drugs at the same time. The smallest of such tests only have three panels and will detect the most common drugs of abuse – Cannabis, Cocaine and Heroin. Larger tests can go up to 18 panels and will detect all the different types of drugs that are commonly abused in the UK today. Generally a 5 panel or 7 panel test is sufficient for most testing environments
Urine Tests: Pros, Cons and Tips
Urine testing is the most common method of cannabis drug screening. It’s relatively inexpensive, noninvasive to collect samples, and can detect use from 3-30 days prior depending on frequency of consumption. However, urine tests have a few downsides. There is a privacy concern with supervised collection. They also have a longer detection window than other methods, so occasional users may test positive even if not currently under the influence.
If you’ll be taking a urine test, make sure to follow all instructions carefully. Avoid diluting your urine by drinking excessive fluids, and don’t try to cheat with any dubious detox products or substituted samples. For the most reliable results, do a trial run with an at-home test first so there won’t be any surprises.
Multi Drug Test With Integrated Cup
Some multi drug tests come with a built in cup, which makes the collection process for urine a little bit cleaner and less likely to be tampered with. All multidrug tests of this sort will include cannabis as one of the parameters they check for. It is really as simple as choosing the cup test that works best for your circumstances. Generally we recommend a 7 drug or 10 drug cup test.
Saliva Cannabis Drug Tests
A lot of people opt for a saliva drug test when looking for the best cannabis drug test. It is easy to see why. Saliva drug testing has some advantages: collecting saliva is less intrusive than collecting urine. Also, it is much easier to check if the test is being taken properly and that the person being tested is not trying to cheat the drug test. Unlike urine tests though, saliva tests can only detect recent use of cannabis.
Alternative Testing Methods to Consider
While urine and saliva are the most accessible options for self-administered cannabis screening, there are a couple other testing methods that may be used in official contexts:
Blood Tests
Blood tests are the most accurate way to measure current THC intoxication levels, but have a very brief 2-3 hour detection window. They are more invasive and expensive than other methods, so they are usually only used in post-accident or treatment programme monitoring.
Hair Follicle Tests
Hair testing has the longest detection period, up to 90 days, but cannot determine current impairment. A 1.5 inch hair sample taken from next to the scalp can show patterns of repeated use over the past 3 months. However, hair tests may show a positive result from environmental exposure even if the person did not directly consume cannabis.
Interpreting Cannabis Drug Test Results
If you get a positive result on a cannabis drug test, don’t panic. Consider whether you might have been exposed to secondhand weed smoke or if you’ve taken any medications that could cause a false positive. Discuss the results with your doctor or the testing lab to understand what they mean in context.
Even if you have used cannabis, a positive test alone does not indicate addiction or impairment. Frequency of use, personal health factors, and reasons for using are all relevant in determining outcomes. Employers should have clear, specific policies that are communicated to employees regarding the consequences of positive drug tests.
Ultimately, the goal of cannabis drug testing should be to promote health, safety and open communication, not to punish responsible cannabis consumers. By choosing a reliable, high-quality drug test and using it as a tool for education and harm reduction, we can work to destigmatise cannabis and create a future with more sensible drug policies for all.
Photo by Anthony Cunningham for Zoom Testing
Zoom Testing is a leading UK drug testing company and a supplier of Drug Test Kits.
