Imagine you have a test for drugs ahead, and you are browsing in the pharmacy section, faced with boxes that say quick, 99% accurate results. Your thoughts begin to move very fast as you ask yourself questions. Do you think it’s a good idea to use a home test kit right before the event?
Home drug tests vs. lab tests accuracy! For example, using a scale at home is different from seeing one at the doctor, and you might trust its result more. Let’s get into all the information you should know about these two testing methods to decide which is right for you.
What Comes with the At-Home Drug Test Kit?
When you receive a home drug test kit, you’re essentially getting your mini science lab for your bathroom. The test strips in home kits behave much like pregnancy tests; you include a sample, wait a short while, and lines will indicate the result.
Most kits are designed to identify the most usual drugs, for example, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates and PCP. Drugs are determined by means of immunoassay, a system that uses strips and antibodies to recognise drug particles.
You need to take your sample, use the test strip, wait for approximately five to ten minutes, and then examine the results. A hormone test typically yields positive results with a single line and negative results with two lines.
Do Home Drug Tests share the same information as a lab Test?
We should now discuss the subject of home drug test experiences versus laboratory-based drug tests. The answer is mostly not very much. You can think of it as a combination of a magnifying glass and a high-powered microscope. The former shows objects that are slightly larger than those in the latter.
Quick at-home tests answer the question yes or no, but labs do much more than that. Advanced equipment is used in labs, and they also conduct a type of check called confirmatory testing. Suppose the result of your test shows that a drug is present. In that case, a laboratory can tell you exactly which substance is in your system, its concentration, and clear up any confusion from false positives.
One thing home tests lack is the presence of trained experts who can properly interpret confusing outcomes and recheck everything. Laboratory tests can detect and identify a wider range of substances at extremely low concentrations.
Are Home Drug Tests Genuinely Reliable?
What is the most common thing that keeps people up at night? Although home drug tests are useful, they are not always entirely accurate. The major issue is? It’s not always easy to understand what the results show.
There are those pregnancy tests that have a very faint line, so you find yourself squinting and looking for people to tell you what their thoughts are. Even drug tests sometimes work this way. You may mistake a faint line on the test as negative, but it can be easy to get confused and think it might indicate a positive result.
What Happens If the Results from a Home Drug Test Are Positive?
There are still steps you can take if you get a positive result from your home drug test. Here is what I suggest you pay close attention to:
Sometimes, the results from home tests are wrong and say you have a coronavirus infection when you do not. Some medicines, foods and health issues can cause the drug test to say there are illegal substances present when there really aren’t. This is the reason labs do follow-up tests. They are aware that these mistaken results can occur.
When the home test indicates that you are positive, you can choose one of the following options.
- Take the test again
- Test your symptoms again after a few days.
- Be aware that you may need to allow more time for the process of getting clean.
- Check what could be behind a false positive result.
A positive home result means your screens found drug remains, but it does not prove much. Knowing ahead of time is much better than being surprised when a problem arises.
Can a Home Drug Test Be Used for Issues Affecting the Law or Employment?
This is very important to understand. Home drug tests are not used for any official purpose; they help you prepare for the actual test. A court, employer or official organisation will never recognise home test results as evidence.
After all, if you could buy a quick test at the pharmacy, wouldn’t everybody skip going to the legitimate testing centres? Pointing out the differences, a professional test is controlled, well-documented and more accurate.
Most frequently, people raise the question of if I pass a home drug test, will I pass a Quest diagnostic test? Although many experts say that passing a home drug test usually helps you pass a Quest Diagnostics test, there’s still no way to promise it. Labs, such as Quest Diagnostics, employ much more advanced instruments and rigorous protocols for their work.
How common are false Test results when using a Home Test kit?
This is when home testing really starts to feel worrying. Home tests are more likely to return false results than lab tests, which can result in either a false positive or a false negative.
The diagnosis may be incorrectly reported as positive when you really do not have the condition.
- Some medications were bought at the pharmacy.
- Legal prescription drugs
- Some substances people consume
- Problems that can make changes in your urine
- If test kits are old or not properly stored
Results may show the wrong outcome when you have the drug in your system.
- The levels of drugs are too low for the drug test to detect
- If you drink more water than you should.
- Doing a drug test just after drug consumption
- If the test kits have expired or been damaged, they will not yield accurate results.
- Not obeying the directions as they are written.
Some experts argue that these tests can yield unexpected results due to inaccuracies and a lack of sensitivity. That is why professional labs perform confirmatory testing; they recognise the potential problems and know how to overcome them.
This approach, in essence, means that what you find in a home test is only an estimate; it isn’t always 100% accurate. Using a home drug test and depending on its outcome may not be enough for your professional drug test.
Take the First Step to Safety: Book Your Drug Testing Today!
Conclusion
We know that the process of drug testing can be very stressful. Suppose you need advice on home vs lab testing or require reliable testing services. Choice DNA staff understands that situations vary, and we ensure that we provide reliable information and solid testing services. So that when you use a drug test, you always know the truth, with nothing held back and no confusing results.
Bear in mind that having information is always more powerful, whether you decide on a home test or consult a professional. Stay informed, be prepared, and you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever life throws your way.
