Because tests can detect drug residue in your system, it will help to stop using drugs immediately if you’re using this method to prepare for your drug test. As drug tests have increased in accuracy, it’s less and less likely that you’ll have a false positive on your results. For example, ibuprofin used to create a false positive for marijuana. With improvements in testing, this is no longer the case.
Take a urine sample first thing in the morning, when your urine is most concentrated. If this sample comes back drug-free, you can feel more relaxed about your pending drug test. It’s still advisable to refrain from taking drugs until the test date, however. If this sample comes back positive, you’ll be able to practice diluting your urine, or any of the other strategies mentioned below.
You’ll want to refrain from any drug use during the time you’re preparing for your drug test. If you’re more likely to use drugs when you’re drinking, you may also want to avoid alcohol during this time, even though drug tests will not generally be designed to detect the presence of alcohol. Ideally, you’ll have a couple of weeks from the last time you used drugs until the date of the drug test. This time period won’t eliminate all traces of drugs from your system, but it provides time to help you prepare for your test.
If you’re a regular smoker, you might want to take a urine test instead. If you’ve just begun to use drugs and are brought in for a drug test, you might want to choose a hair follicle test.
You’ll enter a testing room, which contains a toilet. The door to this toilet is monitored, but the toilet room itself allows you privacy. You’ll be expected to provide a urine sample into a small plastic cup. Each urine sample will be examined for: temperature; color; odor; presence of foreign objects or material; tampering, adulteration, or substitution. If you’ve smoked recently, you may do better with a urine test than a blood test.
Make sure you have an updated list of all medications you’re taking, whether prescription, over-the-counter (such as aspirin or ibuprofin), supplements and vitamins. The blood test will detect all current medications. This may be offered to a victim of rape in order to learn whether they were given a date rape drug that affected their ability to consent. Professional athletes are required to consent to blood tests in order to determine whether they’re taking performance enhancement drugs.
The typical hair sample is taken from 1 1/2 inches from the person’s scalp. As hair grows at roughly 1/2 inch per month, this would mean that the hair tests for the presence of drugs in the person’s system for the previous 90 days. It takes 5-10 days for drugs to become detectable though this method. If you’ve only just started to use drugs and are brought in for a drug test, this might be the best method to choose. Hair colors and dyes are unlikely to affect any change in the hair follicle drug test. However, some shampoos or hair conditioners may alter the hair follicle test.
Your best way to avoid getting caught by a drug test is to be proactive in evaluating your own situation. A potential employer is unlikely to provide the results to your drug test, and you won’t be offered the opportunity to tell your side of the case. If your drug test comes back as failed, you won’t be hired.
Poppy-seed bagels don’t actually cause false positives. Don’t waste your money on miracle-cleanses, or counting on adding an adulterant to your drug test to game the results. Given the pressure companies face to comply with federal drug laws, these are unlikely to work.
Other beverages are also good as diuretics, but water will help flush your system of everything that goes through your bladder, including THC metabolites. Don’t consume more than 128 ounces of water in a 24-hour period, or you can risk injury or even death from water intoxication. [8] X Research source
B-vitamins can be taken in tablet form, or ingested in nutritional yeast. Don’t take B-vitamin supplements if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
Be careful of taking diuretics if you’re pregnant, or if you’re diagnosed with diabetes, pancreatitis, lupus, gout, or kidney problems. [11] X Research source Some medications may interact negatively with over-the-counter diuretics. Talk to your pharmacist for more information.
A variety of over-the-counter medicines can cause false positives for amphetamine and other illicit drugs on the EMIT test, but not on the GCMS. If this is a random drug screening that occurs at your work place, talk to other people about what to expect. Ask your coworkers what the screening has been like in the past, and whether there are likely to be any changes. Is the testing company the same as it has been? Are they likely to use up-to-date screening techniques? All information can be helpful to you in preparing for your own drug test. Try to avoid seeming overly anxious or nervous about the drug test. Be discreet about who you ask in order to avoid drawing attention.
Good exercises include sit-ups, jumping rope, riding a bike, quick walking or light jogging. Anything that gets your heart rate up will speed your metabolism and help rid your body of drug residue. Avoid exercise in the 48 hours prior to the drug test. At this point, you’ll want your body to stop burning of excess THC. Instead, you’ll try to get your body to reabsorb it.
Further slow your metabolism by quitting exercise at the same time. On the morning of the test, empty your bladder as completely as possible prior to taking your drug test. Eat a huge, fatty breakfast with plenty of liquids to wash it down. Some people suggest adding an Extra Strength 5-hour Energy Shot prior to taking the drug test. In addition to being a diuretic, this drink contains Vitamin B, which provides a good yellow color to your urine.
