Drug Testing Kits vs. Lab Tests: Accuracy & What to Know

Available over the counter, drug-testing kits test are available for those need them. These tests analyze samples for a variety of drugs ranging from illegal drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine to prescription drugs such as barbiturates and oxycodone.

Types

• The two-step test involves a drug urine test followed by a laboratory test if results need to be confirmed. Another type of test uses a home collection kit, where samples such as urine, hair and saliva are collected, then sent to a laboratory for screening.

Effectiveness

• Drug testing kits, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are sensitive to drugs and accurate. These tests, however, are not as accurate as lab tests. In some cases, certain foods and drugs may cause false positives as well as false negatives for those who use drug-testing kits, according to the FDA.

Considerations

• For maximum accuracy, the FDA suggests consumers purchase only FDA-regulated tests. Another thing to consider is that the window of detection for most drugs is less than 72 hours, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP also notes that these drug-testing kits may be easily circumvented.