Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017 | 
Urine drug screen
Drug screen -- urine
A urine drug screen is used to detect illegal and some prescription drugs in the urine.
How the Test is Performed
Before the test, you may be asked to remove all your clothes and wear a hospital gown. You will then be placed in a room where you have no access to your personal items or water. This is so you cannot dilute the sample, or use someone else's urine for the test.
This test involves collecting a "clean-catch" (midstream) urine sample:
- Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel.
- Men and boys should wipe the head of the penis with a moist cloth or disposable towelette. Before cleaning, gently pull back (retract) the foreskin, if you have one.
- Women and girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well. Or if instructed, use a disposable towelette to wipe the genital area.
- As you start to urinate, allow a small amount to fall into the toilet bowl. This clears the urethra of contaminants.
- Then, in the container you are given, catch about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 milliliters) of urine. Remove the container from the urine stream.
- Give the container to the health care provider or assistant.
- Wash your hands again with soap and water.
The sample is then taken to the lab for evaluation.
How the Test will Feel
The test involves only normal urination.
Why the Test is Performed
The test is performed to detect the presence of illegal and some prescription drugs in your urine. Their presence indicates that you recently used these drugs. Some drugs may remain in your system for several weeks, so the drug test needs to be interpreted carefully.
Normal Results
No drugs in the urine, unless you are taking medicines prescribed by your provider.
What Abnormal Results Mean
If the test result is positive, another test called gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) may be done to confirm the results. The GC-MS will help tell the difference between a false positive and a true positive.
In some cases, a test will indicate a false positive. This can result from interfering factors such as some foods, prescription medicines, and other drugs.
References
Pincus MR, Abraham NZ Jr. Toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods . 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 23.
-
Urine sample - illustration
A "clean-catch" urine sample is performed by collecting the sample of urine in midstream. Men or boys should wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well. A small amount of urine should initially fall into the toilet bowl before it is collected (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. The container is then given to the health care provider.
Urine sample
illustration
-
Urine sample - illustration
A "clean-catch" urine sample is performed by collecting the sample of urine in midstream. Men or boys should wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well. A small amount of urine should initially fall into the toilet bowl before it is collected (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. The container is then given to the health care provider.
Urine sample
illustration
-
Kidney stones
(In-Depth)
Review Date: 1/26/2015
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
