What can affect the results of a urine test?

Factors That Can Affect Results Of A Urinalysis Individual factors can affect the results of a urine drug test. Factors such as age, natural metabolism rate, and body mass are factors outside a person’s control that may affect test outcomes.

Can a drug test detect more than one substance in urine?

Many substances are detectable in urine for a specific amount of time, but that time frame may be altered depending on a number of factors. Urine drug tests test for more than just the substance ingested. This is because the body breaks these substances into smaller pieces, known as metabolites, and excretes them in urine.

What do you need to know about a urine test?

Urine samples are needed for urine tests, which are used for things like testing for particular diseases or monitoring their progress. For instance, urine test strips can be used to indicate whether you have a urinary tract infection.

What makes a positive urine drug test positive?

Urine drug screens use cut-off levels. This means that a result will only be positive if the amount of the drug is above a certain level. The amount of the drug will appear on results in nanograms per milliliter: ng/ml. Having cut-off levels helps prevent false-positive results.

Why does a person test positive for drugs in their urine?

This is because the body breaks these substances into smaller pieces, known as metabolites, and excretes them in urine. If a person tests positive for these metabolites, it is a good indication that they took the substance in question. The common urine drug screen is clinically referred to as immunoassay screening.

What are the disadvantages of urine drug testing?

There is also the possibility that the urine drug test may not detect drug use in the time frame immediately before the sample is taken. The biggest disadvantage of using a urine drug test is that if the sample is not taken under observation, there is a risk of sample tampering.

Can a family physician use a urine test?

Family physicians cannot rely on urine drug testing alone to determine adherence to therapy, nor can testing reliably detect intermittent use of nonprescribed substances.

What are the implications of a false positive urine test?

All results are considered presumptive until confirmatory testing is performed. False-positive results have significant implications for a patient’s pain treatment plan, and false-negative results can be a missed opportunity to detect misuse.