Last updated : April 14, 2025
Home drug test kits are sold all over the internet and in brick-and-mortar stores nationwide. Created to make drug testing easier for the “common man,” which often translates to small business owners or parents who worry their child is using drugs, reading them can be trickier than intended if a faint line shows up in the result section.
Home drug tests are pass-or-fail litmus strip tests. The strip is dipped into a urine sample and the result is revealed. The instructions say that if no line appears in the result section, it indicates that drugs are present. However, if there is a line in the test area, the sample tests negative for drugs. Parents and drug-using employees often become unnerved, however, when the line is so faint that it’s nearly non-existent but it’s there nonetheless.
Many wonder if that means that there was just a “teensy tiny” amount of drugs found in the specimen. Where parents are concerned, wondering is bound to have caused a sleepless night or two.
Negative never equals positive
Determining a home drug test result is cut and dried if you stick to the big picture. The tests are pass or fail with no in-between. You want to see two colored lines in the test’s result section. They mean that the sample tested negative for drugs.
The top of the test region is generally marked with a “C” to indicate it’s the control region. There should be a line in the control area. The second line will appear in the test region—sometimes indicated with a “T” rather than a word.
Therefore, if there is a colored line in the control region and not one in the test region, the drug test is positive. If there is a line in the test region—even a very faint line—it’s a negative result.
Fretting parents and nervous employees often mistake a faint line meaning a small amount of the drug remains in the system. So, we’ll reiterate just for good measure. No matter how faint the line is in the test region, the drug test is negative.
Popping positive
The intensity of the line has nothing to do with drugs in the system. A positive urine drug test requires that a specific amount of the drug is present. If that level is reached, there will be no line at all.
The minimum drug quantity required to obtain a positive result differs depending on the drug type. It doesn’t matter what drug is on the test panel, if the predetermined level—or a higher level—of the drug is detected in the specimen, no line shows up.
Crossing the line
Every drug test has a pre-set detection level and it should be the same level set by SAMHSA. It’s best to choose a home drug test that is FDA-approved though. This determines that the pre-set test levels are correct. However, the test doesn’t detect the specific amount of a drug because the method is either pass or fail.
There are valid reasons for a faint line to appear in the test section of the drug test. Let’s take a look at them.
Urine composition
Urine excretion cleanses the body of unnecessary substances. Individual factors can cause a faint line to appear on a drug test.
They include:
- Medication intake
- Fluid consumption
- Overall health
About medications
Over-the-counter medications abound. Some of them are chemically similar to the illicit or abused drugs identified on drug screens. If a similar compound is present in the urine, a faint line is likely to indicate that.
Consider the source
Laboratory technicians are experts at reading drug test results. Moreover, any red flag causes them to look a little deeper. A faint line on the test result doesn’t earn a second glance. The test is immediately deemed negative.
The nervous employee is likely to look twice though. Parents—or anyone else—who need peace of mind can contact a SAMHSA-approved laboratory to determine test results. It will alleviate the concern equated with the faint line because they guarantee accurate results. Less reputable laboratories may have sub-standard operating procedures. And perhaps, less attentive techs.
SAMHSA-approved laboratories earn government ratings. Subsequently, government regulations hold them to the strictest of standards. The staff is aware of the possibility of varying test results. Moreover, they ascertain that their sample cups and saliva test swabs match government standards. This is especially important for employers who utilize employee drug testing rather than depending mainly on the home test kit variety.
It’s equally important for parents who need to know the truth about their child and drug use. The thought of where such a dark path leads is terrifying. Allowing a laboratory to determine whether or not a child is using drugs rather than trusting a home test kit grabbed at the local shopping center brings peace of mind.
Contact a local SAMHSA-approved laboratory to inquire about the cost and collection process. A representative will be happy to answer all your questions.
In the case of a positive result, parents can trust the accuracy and begin seeking outside help for their child. If it’s the case of an employee, you will, of course, follow company protocol.
Straight and narrow
Anyone who uses drugs is putting themselves at risk.
Many illicit or misused drugs are highly addictive. And today, fentanyl is found in every type of street drug available. Buyer beware! Sadly, it’s often a deadly secret ingredient.
Becoming a drug addict is not something anyone plans. It usually begins as a thrill-seeking adventure or perhaps someone who suffers from anxiety may drink or use drugs to lessen it. Choosing to self-medicate when faced with uncomfortable situations often leads to addiction.
In case you weren’t aware of the stats, fifty percent of drug addicts are genetically predisposed to be so. Seriously, it’s in the DNA. Perhaps, they may have never used a drug in their life, but after using opioid painkillers after surgery, they looked for more when the prescription ran out. The other fifty percent of addicts have poor coping skills.
Addiction is a disease, not a weakness. Drugs eventually change how the brain works. This leads to a loss of self-control and damaging behaviors—and death.
We must draw a line in the sand. It will not be faint but bold and strong. Continued education, employers who promote drug-free workplaces, and parents who promote drug-free homes are all sound ways for us to leave our mark.
