Can you use a 3-day-old urine drug test? This is a common question among sportsmen and employees from organizations where drug tests are required.
A urine drug test is a common way to detect illegal drugs and certain prescription medications in a person’s system.
And it is becoming increasingly common in sports and employers to require a urine drug test for prospective employees. However, it is important to note that several factors can impact the accuracy of these tests.
Include the type of drug being tested for, the freshness of the urine, the length of time since the last use, and the testing method used. And one question that often arises is,
Can you use a 3-day-old urine drug test?
Yes, you can, but this largely depends on how you store your urine. If stored properly and frozen, your urine can be used for up to a year. All you’ll need to do is thaw and unthaw it when you need to use it.
When you unfreeze your urine to use, wrap it with a hand warmer to stay warm to the recommended body temperature, as that is one of the things they will check to see if your urine is fresh.
How Is Urine Drug Test Done?
Urine drug screening is simple and non-invasive and typically involves the following steps:
- Step 1: You will be provided with a specimen cup for sample collection.
- Step 2: A body search might be done to ensure that you are not planning on ‘cheating.’ Sometimes, a same-gendered nurse might even accompany you to the bathroom. And would want to hear you urinate just to be sure that the urine you are providing is fresh and, of that instance.
- Step 3: Clean your genitalia with a clean moist cloth you will be provided with.
- Step 4: Urinate in the specimen cup provided up to the marked point and close the lid.
- Step 5: Bring the sample to the technician, and the temperature will be measured to ensure its within the acceptable range.
- Step 6: You are advised to keep visual contact with your sample until it is sealed and packaged for testing. In many sites, the sample is often sent out for testing so that a formal report can be compiled. However, they are some places where they offer instant results.
Be sure to inform the test provider if you are on the following medications: supplements, herbal remedies, prescriptions, or over-the-counter medicines.
It is important to do so as these substances can affect the drug test outcome. You should also know that the screening process is done to check the presence of the following substances in the body:
- Marijuana
- Amphetamines
- Opioids (narcotics)
- Barbiturates
- Methamphetamines
- PCP
- Methadone
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine
The tests may come back the same day or after a few days. If the screening test is positive, a more comprehensive and accurate confirmatory test, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), is conducted to affirm the results.
The confirmatory test results are reviewed and interpreted by a laboratory professional, who then provides a report of the findings to the requester, who could be yourself or your employee.
3 Simple Recommended Ways To Store Your Urine For A Drug Test
1. Use resealable plastic or glass container
Store your urine in a secure and airtight plastic or glass container. If storing for the short term, go with plastic.
However, if you need to preserve the sample for an extended period, glass is a better option as it doesn’t allow for chemical seepage, unlike plastic.
To ensure you don’t lose track of the collection date, label the container before storing it for the long term.
Also, remember glass is fragile, so don’t expose them to sudden temperature changes, as uneven expansion and contraction could lead to its breakage.
2. Freeze your urine
If you don’t plan on using your urine soon, you better freeze it. You should know that urine starts to decompose and oxidize as soon as it leaves the body, turning smellier and darker.
Refrigerating your urine lowers its temperature below the optimum level, inactivating the enzymes.
This means all the microscopic activities will stop, and your urine can remain viable for up to 12 months if the conditions are favorable.
3. Take advantage of hand warmers
If you’re planning to test your urine within the hour, it’s important to store it in a way that preserves its temperature and integrity. Consider using a small pill bottle to hold your sample.
Wrap a hand warmer around it and secure it with a rubber band to keep it warm. Before the test, remove the hand warmer and allow the urine to return to your body temperature for accurate results.
Hand warmers come in handy, especially after you have just unfrozen your urine sample and want to keep it warmer.
How To Pass Your Urine Test
Passing a urine test can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you have recently engaged in activities that could affect the results.
However, with the right preparation and knowledge, it’s possible to pass a urine test successfully. With these tips, you will feel confident and prepared for your next urine test.
1. Abstain from illicit drugs
The easiest way to pass a drug test is to avoid taking illicit drugs in the first place. If that’s not possible, the next best option is to stop taking drugs at least 30 days before the test.
But there is a problem with the latter; some organizations have adopted random drug tests, which can get you off guard.
2. Try drug-free urine from someone you know or synthetic urine
If you are sure that your urine test will be positive because you have an illicit substance in your body, try synthetic urine.
Many people prefer synthetic urine because it’s difficult to detect as it has the same pH, specific gravity, and creatinine to normal urine.
You can also substitute your urine with one that is ‘clean.’ Often people use drug-free family members, but this method will involve sneaking in the sample. A little bit out of manners, but many folks do this to pass the tests.
3. Time your peeing
To pass your urine test, it is important to pee into the sample cup mid or end-stream, not immediately.
This ensures that the sample is representative of your overall fluid intake and not the concentrated contaminated portion that comes out first.
Additionally, the end-of-stream urine is diluted, and you might be lucky to pass the test.
4. Home Remedies
Home remedies can help you pass a urine drug test if you prefer natural solutions. While they may not have immediate effects, they can effectively flush out THC from the body over time.
One popular remedy is lemon juice, which is rich in Vitamin C and has detoxifying properties.
Simply mix 8-16 ounces of water with half a lemon. Drinking a lot of water can also dilute your urine, leading to a clean sample.
5. Exercise every day
Regular exercise is an important part of detoxifying the body as it boosts metabolism, burns fat, and speeds up the removal of toxins. Toxins are stored in fat cells; for this reason, exercising is crucial for effective detoxification.
Cardio activities can help increase heart rate and burn fat, reducing the traces of detectable toxins in your body.
Avoiding False Positives In Urine Drug Testing
No one wants to get the wrong result on a drug test. Although rare, there are cases where the test might show you’ve used drugs, even if you haven’t. This can happen due to certain over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, or foods.
If you get a call from a Medical Review Officer after your test, it’s important to tell them about the prescription, and over-the-counter you’ve taken recently.
Don’t forget to mention anything, even if it’s just an Ibuprofen pill. Also, watch out for foods with poppy seeds or hemp, which can produce a false positive.
If your results come positive and you’re sure you haven’t used any illicit drugs, the explanation often lies in what you’ve taken or eaten that might have caused the false positive result in the urine test.
Using a professional drug testing company can also reduce the chances of false positives because they are thorough and observe high standards in terms of practices.
All positive results should also be confirmed by a laboratory certified by the Federal Government.
Conclusion
Can you use a 3-day-old urine drug test? Yes, you can if you properly store it. Effects of drug abuse in society have had many institutions and workplaces conduct drug tests to maintain integrity and workplace ethics.
The test is designed to detect recent drug use, and a sample too old may not show accurate results if not stored properly.
It is always best to provide a fresh sample, as this will give the most accurate representation of any drug use.
Remember that the drug detection window varies depending on several factors, such as frequency of use, the type of drug, and individual metabolism.
