How to Choose the Best Over-the-Counter Home Drug Testing Kit

Home drug testing kits have become increasingly popular over the years as more and more people want to test for substance abuse and prescription drugs. With so many types and brands of drug testing kits out there choosing the best one can be really tricky. This article covers exactly how to choose the best home drug testing kit so you get the most value for your money.

What is a drug testing kit?

Drug testing kits are designed to test for the common types of drugs in samples of hair, saliva, urine or blood. They work by changing color and then those colors are compared to a reference chart which allows easy detection of drugs in your system. They are used for abstinence from substances, detect early signs of relapse and prevent drug use. Drug testing kits are widely used among parents, employers, sports coaches, hospitals and police officers.

Urine drug testing kits work when the liver breaks down certain elements of the drug into waste that gets stored in the kidneys. These drug waste elements react with certain compounds in the drug kit that allow it to change color or show signs of presence or absence of drugs.

Home drug testing kits are popular since they are cheap and accurate results can be received within the comfort of one's home. Some drug tests provide immediate results while others require laboratory confirmation i.e mailing a sample to the laboratory. Although laboratory confirmation drug tests take more time, they are far more accurate than immediate tests.

What type of drugs can be tested by Home Drug Testing Kits?

The most commonly tested substance in a home drug testing kit is marijuana and the one that is most widely abused. THC is an active compound present in marijuana that can be detected in urine, saliva or hair samples.

Another frequently abused drug is cocaine. It is important to choose a kit that can detect cocaine and its metabolites to ensure accuracy in results.

Other types of drugs that can be tested with home drug testing kits are;

Opiates category – Heroin, Morphine, Codeine

Methamphetamines category – Crystal meth, Ecstacy

Benzodiazepines – Commonly prescribed for insomnia and depression

What should you look for in a home drug testing kit?

When selecting a home drug testing kit, several features should be considered to ensure your objective for testing is met;

Accuracy: A high quality home drug testing kit should display accurate results. Look for a kit that can detect even the trace amount of substances.

Ease of use: Another user friendly aspect of a home drug testing kit is the ease of use. Make sure there are clear and easy to apply instructions on the kit. A good drug test kit can be used at home by an inexperienced individual.

Multi substance test: Always choose a kit that mentions detection of multiple substances, especially the ones that you are looking for. There are 14 panel or 7 panel drug testing kits that can detect both prescription and substance abuse drugs.

FDA Approval: Kits that are FDA approved have gone through rigorous testing and experimental procedures to determine the highest accuracy and reliability. Make sure the kit is tagged with FDA approval.

Timely results: A good drug testing kit delivers timely results whether that is on spot, through mail or on the internet. If the sample of the drug test needs to be mailed then an easy to use portal must be available to display results online.

Easily available: Home drug testing kits should be easily available over the counter or can be ordered online without any difficulty. 

Privacy and Anonymity: One of the greatest factors differentiating drug testing kits from each other is the privacy factor. Home drug testing kits are designed for individuals who feel insecure to test for substance abuse in a lab or public setting. Users truly feel secure when they are testing anonymously without intervention from the public along with the guarantee that their results will not be shared with anyone.

Cost effective: Home drug testing kits are generally more cost effective than traditional lab tests and they can be done repeatedly to monitor and track progress in order to stay away from abuse.

Customer support: Good drug testing kits offer extensive customer support to their clients. They ensure that all the questions are answered properly and clear, easy to apply and precise instructions are given for the product use.

How to Use Home Drug Testing Kits Effectively?

In order to use a home drug testing kit effectively you need to ensure the type of test being conducted and the sample required. Make sure you have all the relevant materials available to complete the test including gloves, containers, swabs etc. Each brand may have their specific requirements so be precise in reading the instructions carefully.

Urine drug testing kits: Using a urine drug testing kit is simple and straightforward. First collect the urine in the container, usually a funnel is provided to reduce spillage along with swabs for cleaning. Make sure the container is clean and free from contamination. For urine drug kits that provide immediate results, dip the test strip into the container that has been filled to the marked line and wait a few seconds. Wait for the results, usually 5 to 10 minutes and then check the indicated guide. A single line represents a positive result whereas two lines indicate a negative result.

For urine drug kits that require you to mail the urine sample to a lab, carefully read the instructions and then send the sample to the address given on the envelope. Your results will appear on an online portal or through email.

Saliva drug testing kits: In order to use the saliva drug testing kit place the swab under the tongue or against the cheek and let the swab collect saliva for some time. Then insert the swab into the test device or vial and you will either see a color change or some indication provided in the guide. Compare your results to the guide for knowing the presence or absence of drugs in your system.

Blood drug testing kits: Using a blood testing kit requires the user to follow some careful steps. Clean your finger with an alcohol wipe to ensure sterility. Then prick your finger with the provided lancet or needle and collect the drops of blood into a vial or on the strip. The amount of blood collection depends on the instructions provided for each drug testing brand. Apply the blood to the testing area or send it to a lab as mentioned in the instructions and wait for your results. Dispose of the kit as mentioned in the instructions.

Hair drug testing kits: Collect a few strands of hair and place them into a foil or envelope as instructed in the guide. Make sure to collect hair samples that are close to the scalp. Mail the envelope to a laboratory and wait for your results to appear.

How long do drugs show in a urine test?

How long drugs remain within your system depends on the type of drug you are testing for;

For example cocaine(crack) will continue to provide positive test results for urine drug tests for up to 3 days.

Marijuana will continue to show positive results between 1-7 days.

THC is a compound in marijuana that will remain in the system of frequent marijuana users for several weeks. During that time it will continue to show positive results in the urine.

Barbiturates which are sleep inducing drugs will continue to remain in the body for 1-3 weeks.

Saliva tests will be able to detect marijuana for up to 24 hours and they do not have a longer window for drug detection.

Hair sample drug tests will continue to show signs of drug use even longer which is up to 90 days.

Dr.Browns Home Drug testing system BEATS all Drug testing kits in USA

Dr.Brown’s home drug testing kit is not just a kit, it's a complete system to detect substance abuse. It is one of the first drug testing kits in the USA to be approved by the FDA and UK Medical device agency. It is an over the counter, home urine drug testing kit to detect 8 of the most common types of drugs including prescription and substance abuse drugs.

By far the most striking aspect of Dr.Brown's system is the accuracy and anonymous testing. Drug test results are completely accurate which is one of the top defining factors of drug testing kits and the most easily neglected. Test results remain anonymous and are not shared by anyone. An easy to use portal displays results accurately and within time. It can be ordered online at your doorstep for an affordable price.

Conclusion 

Choosing a drug testing kit depends on the substances you are testing, time, accuracy of results and convenience. Whether you are using the kit for personal use, parental control, office or for sports make sure to choose the right one so you get maximum value for your money. Multi panel tests provide an added advantage over single drug tests kit so make a wise choice whenever possible.