A urine drug test takes 24 hours to 48 hours to get a result. In the laboratory, the urine test is conducted by a “detection window” which is commonly known as a lab-based test. A urine test detects the drug which is used recently and can identify from the past 24 hours to 72 hours because the drug which is in taken remains up to 10 days.
A urine test helps the doctors to diagnose the disease and suggests the correct components for the cure. Urine tests are also helpful in detecting a different disease in the urinary system for metabolic diseases like liver disease and diabetes problems. The window drug detection is used for finding individual metabolism, type of drug, and dosage quantity. The Clean dehydrated human urine can help you to prepare for the test.
What Type of Drugs Does Urine Test Notice?
- Alcohol drug
- Amphetamine’s drug
- Barbiturate’s drug
- Benzodiazepine’s drug
- Cocaine drug
- Marijuana drug (cannabis)
- Methamphetamine drug
- Opioid’s drug
- phencyclidine (PCP) drug
- nicotine drug
- cotinine drug
The above drugs are identified in a urine test as this test analyses the person’s body.
What Are The Types of Urine Tests?
- Red blood cell urine test.
- Protein urine test.
- Glucose urine test.
- Urine pH level test.
- Ketone’s urine test to identify high blood pressure
- Urine specifies drug gravity test.
- Bilirubin Urine test.
- Leukocytes urine test is used to detect bacterial infection
These types of urine tests vary from one another and specific urinalysis is tested to check the particular problem or drug content in the body.
There are 3 variant methods where urine is evaluated, they are:
- Visual examining
- Dipstick testing
- Microscopic examination
In these three steps, visual examining is done by a lab technician; he/she observes the sample and decides its type by comparing the color, odor, tint, and infection.
In dipstick testing, a strip-contained stick is dipped into the sample to check the abnormalities of the urine. In this method, this can be identified by its pH level such as:
- Type of Color – Yellow (light/pale to dark/deep amber)
- Clarity – Clear or cloudy.
- pH range – 4.5-8.
- Specific gravity – 1.005-1.025.
- Glucose – ≤130 mg/d.
- Number of Ketones – None.
- Number of Nitrites – Negative.
- Leukocyte esterase – Negative.
Dipstick testing also checks for; acidity, concentration, protein, sugar, ketones, bilirubin, infection evidence, and blood, It tests and checks for mentioned categories.Microscopic exam analysis the sample with the microscope, and checks for the average levels of the below-mentioned categories:
- White blood cells give a sign of infection
- Red blood cells give a sign for kidney diseases, bladder cancer, and blood disorder
- Bacteria or yeast indicates the infection
- Casts are tube-shaped protein which identifies the kidney disorders
- Crystals indicate the kidney stones
Examining the urine test sample below 50ml with a cut-off yield takes an average time of up to 42 hours. In this test, cannabinoids can be detected. 50ml can only be tested before few days. If urine is given for a test in the laboratory, the results cannot exceed more than two weeks. A simple urine test can reveal your biological age and determines the age-related risks from your body, even it can estimate the time of death nearly.
The normal results of a urine test in 24 hours can calculate the volume from 800 to 2,000 ml per day. This test is valid with a normal fluid intake of a minimum of 2 liters a day. Glucose, protein, bilirubin, and ketones are not detected in the urine.
Which Factors In Your Body Determine The Drug?
- Frequency of usage drug
- Type of the drug
- Quantity of the drug
- Body mass
- Hydration levels
- Drug tolerance
- Physical activity of the body
- Metabolism rate
- Ethnicity
- Medical conditions to estimate the elimination of the drug
- Weight
- Gender
- Drug lifetime
The above factors can be estimated to determine the drug characteristics. There are many types of drugs that stay in your body below 90 days or above 90 days.
What Are The Preparations For A Urine Test?
The urine test requires a mini preparation. The primary step includes urinating in a plastic container which prevents the bacteria. Then the urine sample should keep in the refrigerator for 24 hours. If any medical supplements are used the test can result as negative. If any unusual supplement is taken it must be informed to the lab technician. The lab technician may ask few questions to proceed with the urine drug test.
After the collection of urine, the technician measures the urine temperature to estimate the confirmation. Then seal the sample without tampering. Then the sample is sent to the lab to interpret the results. Negative results come faster comparatively positive results take time to ensure the accuracy of the test sample. If the result is positive another test is conducted called the “GC-MS test” to provide more effective and confirmation of the result. For these positive results kidney disorders, diabetes, infections, and liver problems are the common results. For pregnant women, urine test confirmation is needed.
Urine Analysis and Its Structure:
Usually, urine is in a sterile condition. In the process of urine collection, contamination of skin bacteria is persistent. Bacteria of 10,000 colonies are considered normal, more than 1 lakh colonies are considered as “urinary tract infection”. In urine protein looks like a structure of foamy, bubbly, and frothy. There are five standard methods of urine tests that are examined to find different components in urine. Among five, two of the tests can be done at your home another three tests are conducted in the lab.
Drug content can be guessed, which depends on the type of the test such as; cannabis drug is detected after consumed for several weeks. Other drugs like cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy are detected within 5 days. Some drugs can be detected in the rapid test which results at the workplace itself and some other drugs are detected in the laboratory. Urine samples are taken from athletes and other sports persons to check the drug availability in their bodies. If the drug content is identified then their performance will be banned.

Michael S. Bardwell is a healthcare professional with a passion for advancing patient care and improving healthcare systems. With expertise in patient-centered care and a track record of implementing innovative solutions, he is a respected voice in the medical community. As a regular contributor to TAFMED.org, Bardwell shares his insights on healthcare topics and is committed to making a positive impact. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with family and giving back to the community through philanthropy.