Yes, water is king; we all need it to survive. It makes our skin look amazing and helps our body run like the engine in an expensive car. However, there is a minor twist to it: if you consume more water than recommended before a drug test, it may interfere with the results. The same water you’re told to drink more of can badly hurt you. You don’t have to swear off water forever, though. Having performed several drug tests and reviewed the results, I will attempt to explain it in simple terms.
Many individuals accidentally consume far more than the recommended amount of water in the days leading up to an exam. It occurs frequently, it can be easily addressed, and it is certainly not a major problem.
Does drinking water before my drug test affect the results?
Yes, it can, but you will not fail, provided you are clean. When you drink a glass of water after another, your urine becomes super watery. The lab will test your urine to ensure that it is a valid sample by examining several factors. When there is a lot of water, it becomes so diluted that the lab is unable to measure it at all. It is like trying to get a little salt in a pool; there is certainly salt in there somewhere, and yet the water is so lean that you cannot detect it.
All drug tests are unique, and therefore, there is no panacea. And so, give these little things a shot:
- Reduce your water consumption over the next 24 hours.
- Urinate as much as you are able.
To re-balance, sip something with electrolytes, such as sports drinks.
Believe me, thousands of individuals live with this each day, and most of them emerge in good shape. Trying to adhere to the advice above, the chances are rather high that everything will be fine, tests will show nothing unusual, and you will not need to be concerned about it in the future.
What Does a Dilute Sample on a Drug Test Report Mean?
The special methods that drug testing labs use enable them to determine whether your urine is normal or if it contains too much water.
They examine some creatinine levels. The fancy name is not a problem; consider that creatinine is a natural thing that must always be present in your urine. By taking excessive water, this compound is diluted excessively.
Samples that are to be diluted fall under two categories:
- Negative Dilute: This indicates that no drugs were detected; however, your sample was diluted. You are clean, although you may be asked to retake the test.
- Positive Dilute The condition suggests that drugs were detected, even though your sample was watery. This is not good news, but it should be taken as a positive sign.
Will I Automatically Fail My Test on Drinking Too Much Water?
No! You do not need to drink a lot of water to fail a drug test. In case you have not used drugs, a dilute will only imply that you probably will have to take the test again.
However, on the other hand, you may raise suspicions when you continuously provide diluted samples to some employers. When you forget to bring your homework to class several times, it’s like attending class without having done your homework, and your professor may end up wondering what has happened to you.
What Level of Water Intake Is Excessive Before a Drug Test?
It depends; there is no specific answer, as there are plenty of unique bodies. Not everyone is able to consume more water, which makes their sample diluted.
These are some of the basic regulations:
- Drink less than eight glasses of water per day until your test. That is roughly one glass every 3 hours – that is very normal!
- Avoid taking an excessive amount of water 2 hours before your test. Take the time and allow your body to stabilise.
When you are extremely thirsty, avoid drinking full bottles at once; instead, drink small portions at a time.
When you get your blood into a substance screening or a 5 panel drug test, the lab does not want to see pee out of a water fountain; the lab wants to see your everyday pee.
Does My Employer Believe I was Cheating?
Most employers are aware that people often become nervous and may drink excessive water. It is not a big issue regarding a single diluted sample. However, if you continue to give them diluted samples, your employer may suspect that you are hiding something. Drinking water may help hide the presence of drugs in urine, but a blood test is not affected by how much water a person drinks.
What is Drug Testing all about?
Drug testing is a search for drugs in your body. The three major ones are urine, hair, and blood.
- The most typical ones are urine tests. There are low-priced items, and this makes them easier to donate. This is a 5-panel drug test that tests for 5 different drug types in your urine.
- Hair tests determine whether you have been taking drugs in the recent past. This test will not be different, just as you drink a lot of water.
- Blood tests are not conducted frequently, but they are quite accurate. They examine your blood for drugs.
In case you do not use any drugs, these tests will indicate that you are clean even in the case when you drank too much water by accident.
In case a dilute sample was already provided, then:
- Stay calm. Many individuals inadvertently provide a watered-down sample.
- Be honest. When your boss asks, tell them you were too nervous and consumed excessive water. Most employers will appreciate it.
- Take up the retest rules. Don’t repeat the same error twice.
- Drink normally. Take the drink you typically consume, such as you do on any given day.
What are the Tips for my Next Drug Test?
- Eat breakfast. Food helps your body produce normal urine.
- Avoid drinking more water. It’s just about drinking what you drink.
- Visit the toilet like a normal person. Neither consider it a burden nor attempt to push it out.
- Relax. It is natural to feel nervous; however, stop drinking a gallon of water.
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Conclusion
There are cases where people misunderstand the guidelines and take excess water prior to a drug test. Water cannot make you any dirtier if you are not already dirty. There is also the possibility that the lab will order you to repeat the test, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Drug tests safeguard the workplace. Regardless of the type of test, whether it is a substance screening, a 5-panel drug test, or another type, the underlying principle is the same: safety and health.
Choice DNA can assist you in case you require efficient drug testing. They are aware that mistakes can sometimes occur, and regardless of the screen you need or the questions you have, they will direct you professionally and cautiously.
