Urine

Urine Drug Testing

Who should choose urine drug testing?

Urine drug testing is the most common type of drug test in the United States. It is typically utilized by employers, concerned parents, probation and parole officers, and schools.

Urine testing tends to be the least expensive drug testing option when compared to other types of drug tests.

You might consider urine drug testing if you are concerned about recent drug use, cost is a concern, you are looking for a result with a quick turn-around-time, or you want to determine if known use is increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same over time.

What is the advantage of urine drug testing with a laboratory versus with an instant test?

Depending on your specific situation, urine drug testing with a laboratory may provide advantages over instant testing options. Some of these advantages include:

  • Laboratory tests require a chain of custody which allows the results to be used in legal proceedings.
  • Positive test results are tested at the laboratory again for confirmation. This additional testing significantly reduces the chances of false positives.
  • A positive laboratory result will show a quantitative value. A quantitative value is a numerical representation of how much of a specific substance or metabolite was detected in a sample. This value can be used to determine if drug use is increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same by comparing the value to previous or subsequent test results.
  • Because urine testing has been around for so long, there are many different test options. With instant testing, you are typically limited to the most common drugs of abuse.
How long can drugs be detected with a urine test?

How long a drug can be detected with a urine test is influenced by many factors:

  • What drug was used.
  • How much of the drug was used.
  • How the drug was administered (orally, injected, smoked, etc.).
  • How "pure" the drug was.

In addition to the list above, an individual's biology can also affect how long a drug can be detected in a urine sample.

If you know the drug you are interested in testing for, you can contact us and we can provide you with an approximate detection time for that drug. It's important to understand though, that any detection time we provide is likely to be very broad and is only an estimate.

How is urine testing performed?

Urine testing is generally a quick process. The donor will be given a urine collection cup and asked to provide a urine sample in a secure restroom or restroom stall while the collector waits just outside.

In some cases, the test may be observed. With an observed collection, a trained observer of the same sex as the donor will follow the donor into the restroom or restroom stall to ensure that the donor does not tamper with or substitute their sample.

Once the sample is collected, it is packaged and sent to the laboratory for testing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If your question isn't addressed, or you just want to talk to a live person, give us a call at 1 (636) 916-0050.

It depends. Appointments are suggested but are only required if the collection is to be observed.

Urine tests typically take 10 to 15 minutes.

Results are usually available in 1 to 2 business days.

No.

There is no need to drink more water than you normally would.

Yes. The collector or observer will explain the process to you and allow you to ask any questions before the observed collection begins.

The specifics about observed collections can be viewed here so that you know what to expect.

Yes, however, you may consider an instant test option if you would prefer to collect the sample yourself.

If you prefer a laboratory test instead of an instant test, it is important that you collect, store, and transport your sample correctly. Before you collect a sample, we recommend that you contact our office for a collection kit as well as instructions on how to collect, store, and transport your sample.

After you have collected the sample, you will need to get the sample to us for testing. If you live in the Saint Louis area, you may bring your sample directly to our office for testing. If you are outside the Saint Louis area, please contact us for shipping details and instructions.

Not really. While the results will show a quantitative value, it's not possible to extrapolate from those values how much of a drug was actually used because there are so many unknown factors involved. Even if the drug being abused is a legal prescription medication, it would not be possible to determine how much of the medication was taken, if it was being taken as prescribed, or if it was being abused.