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What is a Urine Drug Screen?
A urine drug screen, also known as a urinalysis, is a type of test that looks for drugs, medicines, and other substances in a person’s urine. The substances that are tested may also vary depending on the type of drug screening test being used. It is typically used to detect the presence of illegal drugs or prescription medications that are being abused.
Preparation for a Urine Drug Screen
The preparation for a urine drug screen is relatively simple. Most times, it consists of notifying the individual of the drug screen and collecting the urine sample from the person in a clean, secure container. Generally, it is recommended that the person provide a sample that is within the specified time frame and meets all of the specimen collection criteria outlined in the laboratory’s instructions.
Procedure for a Urine Drug Screen
The procedure of a urine drug screen varies depending on the type of test being used. Typically, the sample is analyzed through a series of chemical tests that look for the presence of certain abused drugs and their metabolites.
Types of Urine Drug Screen
The most common types of urine drug screen tests are the immunoassay and the chromatographic tests. The immunoassay is a type of test that uses antibodies to detect the presence of drugs and their metabolites, while the chromatographic tests are a more advanced type of test that uses a combination of several chemical tests to detect the presence of a wider range of drugs and their metabolites.
Risks of Urine Drug Screen
The risks associated with a urine drug screen are minimal. Generally, the most common risks are false positive results, false negative results, and contamination of the sample. False positives are rare, but can occur if a person previously used a drug that is now being tested for in the urine drug screen. False negatives may be more likely if the person does not provide enough or the correct type of sample for the test.
Why is a Urine Drug Screen Performed?
A urine drug screen may be requested for a variety of reasons, such as:
- To monitor a person’s compliance with a prescribed drug regimen
- To detect the presence of drugs or other substances in the workplace
- To detect the presence of drugs or other substances in a hospital setting
- To determine if a person has been using drugs prior to or during the commission of a crime
When is a Urine Drug Screen Performed?
A urine drug screen may be requested at any time, but typically it is requested when circumstances indicate that a person may have been using drugs. This may include things such as after a motor vehicle accident, during an employee background check, or when a person is suspected of drug use in a criminal investigation.