Last updated : March 24, 2025
Between the opioid crisis raging in Minneapolis, as it is throughout the rest of America, and heroin and methamphetamine, or meth, abuse, which are some of the most frequently abused drugs in the area, local employers are justifiably concerned about workplace safety.
Many employers rely on the urine drug test as their method of choice because as the industry standard since the 1980s, it’s simple and cost-effective. It’s also the method that most employees are familiar with. This is the most common method to test for drugs and it’s also the ony method currently approved by the Department of Transportation for DOT drug testing.
What is a urine drug test?
This is a drug testing method, as the name suggests, in which the test subject must provide a urine sample to identify drug use. The urine sample is collected in special bottle, which is then sealed and delivered to the lab.
Advantages
- It’s currently the only drug test method approved for DOT drug testing.
- It’s the most cost-effective method available.
- Most employees are aware of the process and already know what’s expected of them.
Disadvantages
- Some employees mistakenly believe that “detox” products will help them “pass” a urine drug test, so they may use drugs thinking they will get away with it. In reality, this will only result in a negative dilute drug test result.
- A “shy bladder” is a common, and sometimes time-consuming issue that occurs when an employee can’t urinate for the test.
- The collector must be the same sex as the employee.
How is it conducted?
When employers send a potential candidate to get drug tested or when companies conduct random drug tests on its employees, a Collection Specialist is present. The sex of the test subject is matched with the sex of the Collection Specialist. The Collection Specialist ensures proper identification of the test subject and then the test is performed. The test subject is handed a specimen container and is escorted to a private bathroom area to provide the specimen.
Once the test subject provides at least 45 ml of urine, the specimen container is sealed with a tamper-proof strip of tape. The employee is asked to initialize over the tape and sign the Custody and Control Form. Then, it is sent to the lab for analysis.
The initial screening is conducted with a chemically coated strip of paper that is dipped into the urine and if drugs are present in the system, the strip is color coated to indicate if so. A second test is conducted called the gas chromatography/mass spectrum (GC/MS) to indicate specific drug metabolites. It takes a little more time and it costs more, but it cuts down on false positives.
What drugs does it identify?
Even though opioids, methamphetamines, and heroin are the most commonly abused drugs in Minneapolis, employers need to be able to identify other drugs as well. The urine drug test can identify a wide range of substances, depending on the drug panel used.
5 Panel drug test
9 Panel drug test
- Amphetamines
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine
- Methadone
- Marijuana (THC)
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
10 Panel drug test
- Amphetamines
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine
- Hydrocodone
- Marijuana (THC)
- Methadone
- Methaqualone
- Methamphetamines
- Opiates
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Propoxyphene
12 Panel drug test
- Amphetamines
- Propoxyphene
- Cocaine
- Barbiturates
- Methadone
- Benzodiazepines
- Marijuana (THC)
- Opiates
- Hydrocodone
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Percocet/Oxycodone
- Ecstasy/MDMA
How accurate is the test?
The urine drug test can’t detect drug use as early as the mouth swab drug test, but can detect some drug metabolites for weeks longer. It has the ability to detect alcohol for 10 – 12 hours. It can detect marijuana for 1 – 30 days, cocaine for 1 – 8 days, and heroin for 2 – 3 days.
It can detect barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and PCP for 1 – 7 days. Amphetamines, codeine, and hydrocodone can be detected for 2 – 4 days. Methamphetamine and morphine can be detected for 2 – 5 days. And oxymorphone, oxycodone, and hydromorphone can be detected for 3 – 4 days.
What do the results mean?
Positive
A positive test result indicates that drug metabolites did appear in the urine sample that was taken and the GC/MS confirmed specific drug metabolites were found.
Negative
A negative test result indicates that no specific drug metabolites appeared in the urine sample that was taken.
Inconclusive
An inconclusive test result indicates that neither positive nor negative test results were concluded. When the test is conducted properly, an inconclusive test result is highly unlikely.