Last updated : February 17, 2025
Receiving a positive dilute drug test result indicates two things. Someone tested positive for drugs. Just as importantly to employers, though, they more than likely tried to hide it. The employee is usually terminated immediately due to drug use.
On the other hand, a negative dilute result is still a cause for concern. Even though the employee didn’t test positive for drug use, the fact that the specimen was diluted indicates to employers they may have successfully masked drug use. It’s common practice for the employer to require a second test. Sometimes, as required of safety-sensitive employees, for instance, there’s a retest.
Harder to tamper with results
It’s “common knowledge” in the drug culture that you can flush your system of drug metabolites long enough to take a urine test. The word on the street—and all over the web—is that if you consume lots of water or other liquids before you head to the test site, you should pass with flying colors. In the early days of drug testing, that may have been the case—but not anymore.
People used to be able to “get over” on a drug test by adding adulterants or downing lots of water just before a drug test. However, somebody needs to let drug users know that technology has come a long way since the 80s. Laboratory equipment is much more sophisticated today. This makes it easier for techs to determine if a test sample has been tampered with in an attempt to mask drug use.
Two common methods attempted by employees desperate to keep their jobs are adding adulterants or drinking excessive amounts of fluid.
Creatinine is the key
Creatinine is the byproduct of creatine phosphate. Created by muscle contractions, it leaves the body through the blood and kidneys. It’s a constant process. Normal creatinine levels determine the specimen is pure urine.
Laboratories use creatinine to determine if a urine sample is diluted. Excessive fluids in the urine sample provided for testing, cause creatinine levels to be outside the normal range. That is to say, the creatinine levels are equal to or greater than 2 mg/dL, but less than 20 mg/dL. The specific gravity levels of the urine sample are greater than 1.0010 and less than 1.0030.
The urine of a normally hydrated person never reaches creatinine levels in that range. Samples that contain these levels are identified as being diluted.
Negative dilute drug test result
If creatinine levels are out of the normal range, but no drugs are found in the test sample the final test result is a negative dilute.
Employees receiving this result often breathe a sigh of relief, however, it serves to raise a red flag for employers. We already mentioned that a diluted test result may have been an attempt to mask drug use. Employers operating a drug-free workplace should have written procedures that address this situation. Company protocol, which usually entails retesting the employee as soon as possible, is strictly followed.
DOT-regulated employers are mandated to require a second—observed—test.
Shy bladder syndrome makes it extremely difficult for people to urinate in a public setting. It could be that someone suffering from shy bladder syndrome drank an excessive amount of liquid before a drug test hoping to produce a specimen. If that is the case, a doctor’s statement would clear up any question. Even so, many employers require a second drug test.
Positive dilute drug test result
If the test reveals drugs in the system accompanied by creatinine levels out of the normal range, a positive dilute results.
This result determines that the employee recently used drugs and in all likelihood attempted to hide it. It would be rare if the employee wasn’t terminated immediately.
They can’t hide
Employees who use drugs realize the gravity of a positive drug test result. If they didn’t, there would not be so many products available to falsify results.
Detox products profess to cleanse the body of drug metabolites in the urine, saliva, or hair. The expense is of little concern when someone’s job is on the line. These products are available for purchase in brick-and-mortar shops or online with the click of a mouse. Many prefer using this method because the product comes straight to their door.
Consumers should be made aware of the “exception” clause though. It’s usually found in the really small print area. It’s the “out” clause so the manufacturer can avoid getting sued when the product doesn’t work. Verbiage stressing that “if steps aren’t followed exactly” makes the consumer accept responsibility for a positive test result. The charlatans.
Home methods don’t work either.
A myriad of “pass the test” methods and recipes exist such as drinking pickle juice to beat a urine test or washing your hair with a special concoction that cleanses drug metabolites from the hair. It’s amazing—horrifying at times, actually—what desperate people will do. There are even reported cases of people washing their mouths out with bleach before a mouth swab test.
Can you imagine? No, on second thought, don’t. How horrific!
Proof positive
A positive test result that was tampered with in any form is serious. Most employers would call for immediate termination—no questions asked. That’s understandable because drugs in the workplace are a major safety issue.
The main reason employers drug test is to deter drug use in the workplace. Employees who use drugs are a hazard to themselves and others. They’re at increased risk of being in or causing an accident—so is everyone working around them. Employers have every right to test workers for drug use in the case of an injury or accident.
Drug use also affects a company’s productivity and revenue. Employees who use drugs are less productive, absent more often, and file more worker’s comp claims.
The straight dope
Drugs are everywhere and affect everyone to some degree.
Employers put drug-free or zero-tolerance policies in place to deter drug use. If an employee tests positive for drug use, follow your company policy to the letter. Making exceptions to the rule does nothing to create a safe work environment. It only opens the door for future HR lawsuits when word gets out.
Do all you can to help the employee find resources for rehabilitation. When someone is ready to admit they have a problem, they’ve taken the first small step toward seeking help. That is a life-changing decision.
Can a positive dilute drug test result be a game-changer in the life of a drug user? Let’s hope so. Losing your job because you failed in your attempt to “flush” drugs from your body is a pretty loud wake-up call.
