At-home drug tests are rising in popularity since they present a potentially easier solution to determine if drugs are in someone’s system rather than conducting full lab-based tests.
Some employers may opt for this route since they’re quick and affordable, or someone concerned about a loved one struggling with or recovering from addiction may use at-home tests to see if drugs are in their system.
That said, are at-home drug tests reliable? Oftentimes, at-home tests can be a good first step to see if drugs are in someone’s system, but comprehensive lab testing is the most accurate option. Therefore, even if someone tests positive on an at-home test, further evaluation is a good idea to ensure accuracy.
The rest of this article will cover everything you should know about home drug tests and how to ensure accurate drug test results.
How At-Home Drug Tests Work
Most at-home drug tests will be either urine or saliva tests. You can also find home breathalyzer tests for alcohol. They usually have very basic equipment that doesn’t take much training or practice to use successfully.
You can purchase home tests that check for just one substance or a range of different substances at once. Some common drugs that home tests can detect are:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Prescription opioids
- Methamphetamine
- Ecstasy
- Benzodiazepines
- Barbiturates
- Heroin
Make sure to read the label of the test carefully before buying and using it so you get the right one for your needs.
The Typical Home Drug Testing Process
A standard urine test at home involves urinating into a collection cup and placing a test strip in it. The test strip will change to a specific color if traces of drugs are present in the urine. Tests that can detect multiple substances at once will color-code results so you can determine which drug someone tested positive for.
Why do traces of drugs show up in the urine? Most drugs are processed by the liver, which prepares them for removal from the body. They’re then sent to the kidneys to get removed through the urine. Therefore, urine is a primary way to detect drugs in the system as the body is removing them.
Home saliva tests work similarly to urine tests. Saliva is collected by swabbing the inside of the cheek, and then it’ll either get placed on a testing strip or a special collection device that’ll change color to indicate traces of drugs present in the sample.
Drugs are detectable in the saliva due to passive diffusion from the blood. That means small particles from drugs (called metabolites) get passed from the blood into other parts of the body like the saliva. Drugs that are smoked or taken orally may also get deposited into oral cavities and the saliva.
How Accurate Are at Home Drug Tests?
Do home drug tests work? Yes, they can, but the FDA states that no at-home drug test has 100% accuracy. Therefore, even the best home drug test kits need additional confirmation tests by regulated labs to validate the results.
The FDA recommends that if someone tests positive on an at-home test, it should be sent to a lab that can perform a deeper analysis, or you should make a lab appointment to do a more official test.
Studies have also shown that accuracy can vary based on the substance. For example, a study by the American Journal of Emergency Medicine analyzed five different types of drug tests. What they found was that certain substances like cocaine were detected at high rates (about 95%) by all methods, but other substances like marijuana varied quite a bit between tests (from 70-90% accuracy).
Common Issues with At-Home Drug Tests
The biggest issue with at-home drug tests is that they can have false positives and negatives more frequently than standardized lab testing. False positives in home drug tests are when someone tests positive for a substance that they haven’t been using. False negatives are when someone gets a clean test result even though they have been using drugs.
Common reasons for false positives and negatives are:
- When tests are expired or were stored improperly: Storage and monitoring for at-home tests aren’t regulated like in a lab. Therefore, they might expire without anyone noticing, get damaged, or be stored in a place that’s too hot or too cold.
- Improper sample collection: Collecting or handling the urine or saliva sample the wrong way can affect results. For example, leaving the sample out too long before testing where it could get contaminated or be exposed to too much light could reduce the test’s effectiveness.
- Variations by brand and test quality: Home tests will vary slightly by brand and have different mechanisms to determine if drugs are present in a sample. Some may be more accurate than others, providing inconsistent results.
Many at-home tests also don’t check for as wide of a range of substances as lab tests do. Therefore, someone could be using a substance that’s outside of the home test’s capabilities, and you won’t be able to tell.
At-Home Drug Tests vs. Lab Testing
The main thing you’ll notice while comparing at-home vs. lab drug testing is that lab tests have much stricter quality control. Technicians are highly trained, processes are standardized, and testing methods perform deep evaluations for better accuracy.
Some labs also perform a strict confirmation process after every test called GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). It involves separating compounds in a sample to analyze the chemicals and biological materials in it. Therefore, if someone tested positive for a substance, this process could analyze the compounds in the sample to determine if they’re actually metabolites of a drug.
While at-home testing may be sufficient for certain needs, organizations like the FDA recommend lab testing to confirm any results for crucial decisions like legal matters or any final workplace decisions to ensure false positives and negatives don’t significantly affect someone’s life.
Tips to Improve Home Drug Test Accuracy
Some tips to improve home drug test accuracy are:
Use High-Quality FDA-Approved Testing Kits
When reviewing different testing kits, check to see if they’re labeled as FDA-approved before purchasing them. It also helps to buy them from a reputable retailer, such as a local pharmacy.
Follow All Instructions Carefully
Testing kits will come with instructions for storage and administration. Following these will ensure the test performs at its full capabilities.
Conduct Tests at the Right Time
Considering drug detection windows can provide more accurate results. Studies show that most drugs are detectable in the urine for 2 to 4 days after use, and some may be detectable up to a week or longer. The saliva detection window is a bit shorter, generally between 5 to 48 hours. However, this can vary depending on the type of drug and individual biological and lifestyle factors.
For the best results, administering the drug test as soon as possible after you think someone may have used drugs will help keep it within these windows.
Confirm Positive Results with a Lab Test
Before coming to any conclusions that negatively affect someone’s life, confirm any positive at-home drug tests with an official lab test. It’ll provide an accurate and standardized check for peace of mind.
Conclusion
At-home drug tests are a quick and affordable starting point to determine if drugs may be in someone’s system. However, they aren’t 100% accurate, and it’s always best to follow up with an official lab test when appropriate.
If you or someone you care about recently failed a drug test and may be struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, we’re here to support you at United Recovery Project.
We provide medical detox and residential care for drug and alcohol addiction. Our services can help each step of the way, from initial diagnosis to creating a plan for success to providing resources that help maintain sobriety long-term.
Contact us today to learn more about how United Recovery Project can support you.
References
- Hadland, Scott E., and Sharon Levy. “Objective Testing.” Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 25, no. 3, July 2016, pp. 549–565, doi:10.1016/j.chc.2016.02.005. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4920965/
- CONE, E. J, and M. A HUESTIS. “Interpretation of Oral Fluid Tests for Drugs of Abuse.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 1098, no. 1, 1 Mar. 2007, pp. 51–103, doi:10.1196/annals.1384.037. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2700061/
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Drugs of Abuse Home Use Test.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2018, https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/drugs-abuse-tests/drugs-abuse-home-use-test
- Schwartz, Joyce G, et al. “Accuracy of Common Drug Screen Tests.” American Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 9, no. 2, 1 Mar. 1991, pp. 166–170, doi:10.1016/0735-6757(91)90184-l. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1994947/
- Ramoo, Bheemraj, et al. “Comprehensive Urine Drug Screen by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS).” Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.), vol. 1383, 2016, pp. 125–31, doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-3252-8_15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26660182/
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. “Appendix B. Urine Collection and Testing Procedures and Alternative Methods for Monitoring Drug Use.” Nih.gov, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US), 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64092/
