Urine Analysis is the most common type of drug test. Statistics show that in the year 2015, 90% of the 55 million drug tests administered were urine analysis tests. This specific type of drug testing is more cost-effective than other types of testing and appears to have a longer detection time than blood and saliva sample testing. In the drug-testing industry, urinalysis is known as the ‘gold standard’.
A urine test typically involves a screening test, with a follow-up confirmation test usually performed on the same sample.
Why Urine Drug Testing Kits Are the Most Popular
- Perhaps one of the reasons that urine drug testing is the most popular form of drug testing in the UK is that, when compared to hair or saliva drug testing, urine drug testing is more cost-effective.
- In the UK, urine drug testing using lateral flow enzyme immunoassay is still the most commonly used method of drug testing;
- When compared to saliva drug screening, the detection time in urine is not only more reliable, but much longer for some drugs, specifically cannabis.
The Two Formats of Multi-Drug Urine Drug Testing Kits
Integrated Cup Urine Drug Testing Kit
The first format is an Integrated Cup Urine Drug Testing Kit. In this format, the test panel for drugs has been integrated into the drug test cup. Some of these test cups also have a built-in adulteration strip and temperature strip. For workplace urine drug testing, the Integrated Cup Urine Drug Testing Kit is the ideal testing kit because it’s very easy to retain the urine sample, and the sample can be forwarded for laboratory confirmation if necessary. Typically, a urine drug test of this size will check for a large number of drugs. These types of cup tests start at 8 drugs and move right up to 13 drugs.
Multi-Panel Urine Drug Testing Kit
The second format are Multi-Panel Urine Drug Testing Kits, which are more cost-effective than Integrated Urine Testing Kits. A Multipanel Urine Drug Test Kit is able to detect multiple drugs using just one test, and it provides an individual result for each drug tested.
Drug test prongs extend out from the test card, with the number of prongs depending on the test panel. For example, a 10 panel has 5 prongs extending out from each side of the test card, and a 10 panel will test for 10 drugs.
In order to perform the test, simply expose the prongs of the Multi-Panel Urine Drug Testing Kit by removing the cap from the test kit. The prongs are then dipped into the urine sample for the amount of time as indicated. A test cup will be required in order to perform this test. These cups can be purchased separately.
Single Urine Drug Testing Kits
Single urine drug test kits can be purchased in either –
- Test strip format; or
- Cassette format.
Detection Times for Urine Drug Tests
Urine drug tests for employment purposes may test for methamphetamines or amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, opiates such as heroin or oxycodone, alcohol and nicotine. A urine drug test will reveal a drug’s presence even though the effects of the drug may have worn off; however the length of time does vary depending on the drug. In a urine sample, most drugs of abuse are typically detected 3 to 5 days after last use; however, Cannabis, also known as Marijuana, THC, Hashish, Hash, or Hemp, is the exception to this rule, and in heavy cannabis users it can be detected for up to 30 days. It’s important to note that there are many variables that could affect the length of time that a drug remains detectable in a urine sample.
Urine drug testing kits codes & abbreviations:
How long can the drug be detected for after last use?
AMP 1000ng/ml Amphetamines Speed, amp or whizz. 2-6 days
BAR 300ng/ml Barbiturates Depressants, Barbs, Downers 3-8 days
BUP 10ng/ml Buprenorphine Subutex 3-6 days
BZO 300ng/ml Benzodiazepines Benzos, Rohypnol or roofies 2-14 days
COC 300ng/ml Cocaine Coke, crack or Charlie. 2-5 days
KET 1000ng/ml Ketamine, Special K or K 3-5 days
MDMA 1000ng/ml Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Ecstasy or E’s 2-6 days
MET 1000ng/ml Methamphetamines Glass, ice or meth. 2-6 days
MOP 300ng/ml Morphine, Heroin, Opiates, smack or gear 2-5 days
MOR 300ng/ml Morphine, Heroin, Opiates, smack or gear 2-5 days
MTD 300ng/ml Methadone Dolly, Red Rock 2-8 days
OPI 2000ng/ml Opiates Heroin, smack or gear. 2-5 days
PCP 25ng/ml Phencyclidine Angel dust or peace pill 3 – 8 days
TCA 300ng/ml Tricyclic Antidepressants TCA 6 -10 days depending on the duration of drug use.
THC 50ng/ml Cannabis, Skunk, Marijuana, Hashish, Hemp Casual use 2-14 days heavy use up to 30 days.
EDDP 300ng/ml EDDP screening tests. Detects for up to 5 days after use
OXY 300ng/ml Oxycodone 2-5 days
PXP 300ng/ml Propoxyphene 2-5days
COT 200ng Cotinine (nicotine) 2-5 days
K2 / K3 Spice 50ng 2-3 days
Cannabis Urine Drug Test Kits
The most commonly used drug among 11 to 25-year-olds is Cannabis, which is a natural substance from the marijuana plant. The One-Step Urine Cannabis Test is accurate, fast, and reliable to 99%, and can detect cannabis for up to approximately 30 days.
Can a Urine Drug Testing Kit Determine the Quantity of Drugs Taken?
While a urine drug test kit can screen for the presence of a drug, it cannot determine the level of the drug in the sample nor how much of the drug has been consumed. Therefore, a ‘positive’ result means that the drug is present in the sample at levels at or higher than the detection level of the specific test used. A lab urine drug test would be required to determine the exact level of the drug present in the sample.