PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games ForumsArts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and Garden Relationship QuizzesCars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and Style Sports and FitnessComputers and ElectronicsHealthPets and Animals TravelEducation & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and Religion Work WorldFamily LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationships Youth
LOG IN
Log in
Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. FacebookGooglewikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
RANDOM
Home
Random
Browse Articles
TrendingNew
Quizzes & Games
All QuizzesHot
Love Quizzes
Personality Quizzes
Fun Games
Dating Simulator
Learn Something New
Forums
Courses
Happiness Hub
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Health
Medicines and Drugs
Recreational Drugs
Drug Testing
How to Read Drug Test Results Download Article Co-authored by Ian Kroes, MD
Last Updated: February 24, 2025
Download Article
Testing a Urine Sample
|
Interpreting a Lab Test
|
Expert Interview
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Ian Kroes, MD. Dr. Ian Kroes is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician and the Founder of Peninsula Doctor, a concierge medical practice in Menlo Park, California. With over 20 years of professional experience, Dr. Kroes specializes in Primary Care, which encompasses care for the entire family. In addition, Dr. Kroes has a deep interest in longevity care that focuses on ways to optimize patients' health. This includes attention to nutrition, fitness, and preventative testing. Dr. Kroes received a B.S. in Applied Physical from UC Berkeley and has earned a medical degree from Stanford University. This article has been viewed 45,842 times.
It’s very important that the results of a drug test are interpreted correctly. Fortunately, test results are actually very easy to read. To read urine test results on the spot, insert the testing card or strip into a urine sample and wait 5 minutes. Then, check the testing regions against the control region to identify any positive results. To confirm a positive result, mail the test into a lab for further analysis. If you receive a lab report from a drug test, all you have to do is find the positive or negative reading that corresponds to each drug.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Testing a Urine Sample
Download Article
1 Collect a urine sample to be tested. Find the specimen cup included with the kit. If you’re testing someone else, ask them to fill the cup with urine to the line indicated on the side of the cup.[1]X Trustworthy Source PubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
If there is no line that indicates how much urine needs to be in the cup, fill the cup about halfway.
Check the temperature strip on the collection cup to confirm that the sample falls within 90–100 °F (32–38 °C).
If the urine sample appears completely clear, it could be diluted with water. Ask the subject to provide another sample.[2]X Expert Source Ian Kroes, MDFamily Medicine PhysicianExpert Interview
2 Insert the dip card or strip into the urine if the test uses one. Use the dipstick or card included in the kit to test the urine. Place the dip card into the urine up to the indicated line.[3]X Trustworthy Source PubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
If the kit you have has a panel attached to the inside of the cup, you don’t need to do anything except collect a sample.
Make sure the panel is saturated with urine.
Advertisement
3 Wait 5 minutes before you read the results. Once the dip card is in the urine in the collection cup, allow the testing chemicals to react with the urine to identify any drugs that may be present in the sample. Five minutes is enough time to allow the testing process to be completed.
Don’t wait more than 10 minutes after a sample is collected or the results could be inaccurate.
Tip: Set a timer on your phone or a clock for 5 minutes so you know when the test is ready.
4 Find the control and test regions on the panel. The control region is designed to always react to a urine sample to show that the test is functional. In addition to 1 control region, there will also be a test region that is specific to the drug being tested. If you’re using a multi-panel test, there will be multiple test regions that each correspond to a different drug.[4]X Trustworthy Source PubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Oftentimes, the control region is marked with a “C.”
If there’s a single test region, it may be marked with a “T.”
Most employment drug tests in the US are a 5-panel test, meaning they test for the 5 drugs that are required by federal employment laws.
For example, a panel could have a control region at the top and regions labeled “Marijuana” or “Cocaine.”
5 Note that the test is positive if there is no line in the test region. The control region will always have a solid line appear. Check for a colored line next to the test regions. A colored line next to both the control region and the test region indicates that the test is negative for that drug. If there is a line in the control region but no line in the test region, then the result is a positive for that drug.
The color of the lines may vary depending on the testing kit that you have.
The intensity of the color line is irrelevant. A faint or fading line doesn’t mean that the sample contains a small amount of the drug.
6 Mail a positive test to the lab for further testing. If the panel does indicate a positive result, the only way to be completely sure that it’s accurate is to have further analysis in a lab. The packaging on the test includes a mailing address for you to send the panel to in order for the sample to be tested in a lab to confirm the presence of a particular drug.
False positives do occur, so mail-in a test to be sure that a drug is present in the urine that you tested.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Interpreting a Lab Test
Download Article
1 Match the results with the subject’s name and identification number. When you get your lab results, check to make sure that the results are for the person that was tested. Check the name and identification number listed on the results to be sure that they are correctly linked.[5]XResearch source
If the results are for the wrong person, contact the lab immediately to inform them of the error.
Don’t read results that are for a different person or you could violate someone’s medical privacy.
2 Look for a positive or negative result for each drug. The report will include a list of substances with a positive or negative result next to them. Look through the list of substances and identify which tested positive. That means that the subject has taken that drug.[6]XResearch source
A 5-panel drug test will include the results for the 5 drugs that were tested. A 10-panel test will include a list of the 10 drugs tested and whether or not they were detected in the sample.
Tip: The report may have a plus sign (+) to indicate positive and a negative sign (-) to indicate negative.
3 Read the interpretation if there is one. The lab report may include notes that explain the test results. If the sample tested positive for a specific drug, the notes may say in clear language that the sample contains traces of the drug.[7]XResearch source
The interpretation could also say that the sample was clear of any of the drugs that were tested.
4 Check for any notes or abnormal test results. If the lab detected something abnormal when they tested the sample, they’ll mention it in the lab notes. They could indicate that they believe the sample was tampered with or that the results are inconclusive.[8]XResearch source
The lab report may draw attention to abnormal results with an asterisk (*).
If you suspect that the results were tampered with or if the lab notes that the results are inconclusive, administer the test again to be sure that the person tested positive for a drug.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
You Might Also Like
How toUse a Urine Dipstick TestHow toPerform an HIV Test at HomeHow toPass a Drug TestHow toRead a Urine DipstickHow toTest THC LevelsHow toPass a Drug Test With Home RemediesHow toPass a Drug Test on Short NoticeHow toPrepare for Drug TestingHow toUse a Home Pregnancy TestHow toPass a Drug Test for a JobHow to Check Water for FluorideHow toTest Water PurityHow toFind Out Your Blood Type at HomeHow toStore Urine for a Drug Test Advertisement
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about healthcare, check out our in-depth interview with Ian Kroes, MD.
References
↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279350/
↑ Ian Kroes, MD. Family Medicine Physician. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Ian Kroes, MD Family Medicine Physician This article was co-authored by Ian Kroes, MD. Dr. Ian Kroes is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician and the Founder of Peninsula Doctor, a concierge medical practice in Menlo Park, California. With over 20 years of professional experience, Dr. Kroes specializes in Primary Care, which encompasses care for the entire family. In addition, Dr. Kroes has a deep interest in longevity care that focuses on ways to optimize patients' health. This includes attention to nutrition, fitness, and preventative testing. Dr. Kroes received a B.S. in Applied Physical from UC Berkeley and has earned a medical degree from Stanford University. This article has been viewed 45,842 times. 21 votes - 43% Co-authors: 5Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 45,842 Categories: Drug Testing
Print
Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 45,842 times.
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Ian Kroes, MD Family Medicine Physician 21 votes - 43% Click a star to vote 43% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 5Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 45,842
Quizzes & Games
Traffic Signs TestTake QuizCognitive TestTake QuizPalm Reading QuizTake QuizMusic Notes & Symbols TestTake QuizInk Blot TestTake QuizWhat Will the Sex of My Baby Be QuizTake Quiz
You Might Also Like
How toUse a Urine Dipstick TestHow toPerform an HIV Test at HomeHow toPass a Drug TestHow toRead a Urine Dipstick
Featured Articles
How toRemove Shorts from Search Results on YouTubeWhat Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?115+ Funny “Get Well Soon” Messages to Make Someone Laugh110+ “Fun Facts” for Interviews, Introductions, & IcebreakersHow Long Would You Survive In A Zombie Apocalypse?
Trending Articles
Which Fictional Character Would Crush On You?What's My Personality Based on My Song Choices QuizRate My Personality QuizPurity TestCrush Calculator: Does Your Crush Like You Back?How to Tell if a Guy Likes You
Featured Articles
How to Roast Someone in a Rap Battle (Plus the Best Bars of All Time)What Turns a Girl On? 31 Things to Try on Your PartnerLove AnalyzerSending Your Sweetie a Love Note? Here are 200+ Romantic IdeasHow toExercise Your BrainHow toBe a Fun Person to Hang out With
Featured Articles
What Does Your Morning Routine Say About You?How toDevelop Productive HabitsHow toPractice Self CareWhat Song Matches Your Life Right Now?Will 2026 Be Your Year? Reveal Your FutureUnderstanding the Most Attractive Face Shapes (& Determining Your Own)
Watch Articles
How toTie a Loop KnotHow toMake Body OilHow toMake Almond MilkHow toWash White Clothes by HandHow toSkin a ChickenHow toClean Tile Floors with Vinegar
Trending Articles
How Tall Will I Be QuizHow toLose Weight FastIf I Had A Baby, What Would It Look Like?What Are My Soulmate's Initials QuizMusic Taste Analyzer: What Do Your Favorite Artists Say About You?My Lookalike Generator
Quizzes & Games
IQ TestTake QuizCan You Pass Our Lie Detector Test?Take QuizAm I Smart QuizTake QuizDo I Need Glasses QuizTake QuizPhotographic Memory TestTake QuizTarot Reading AnalyzerPlay
Categories
Health
Medicines and Drugs
Recreational Drugs
Drug Testing
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Home
About wikiHow
Experts
Jobs
Contact Us
Site Map
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info
Contribute
Follow Us
×
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Develop the tech skills you need for work and life
Download Article Co-authored by Ian Kroes, MD 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Ian Kroes, MD Family Medicine Physician This article was co-authored by Ian Kroes, MD. Dr. Ian Kroes is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician and the Founder of Peninsula Doctor, a concierge medical practice in Menlo Park, California. With over 20 years of professional experience, Dr. Kroes specializes in Primary Care, which encompasses care for the entire family. In addition, Dr. Kroes has a deep interest in longevity care that focuses on ways to optimize patients' health. This includes attention to nutrition, fitness, and preventative testing. Dr. Kroes received a B.S. in Applied Physical from UC Berkeley and has earned a medical degree from Stanford University. This article has been viewed 45,842 times. 21 votes - 43% Co-authors: 5 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 45,842 Categories: Drug Testing 
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Play 
428 
1 Collect a urine sample to be tested. Find the specimen cup included with the kit. If you’re testing someone else, ask them to fill the cup with urine to the line indicated on the side of the cup.[1] 
2 Insert the dip card or strip into the urine if the test uses one. Use the dipstick or card included in the kit to test the urine. Place the dip card into the urine up to the indicated line.[3] 
3 Wait 5 minutes before you read the results. Once the dip card is in the urine in the collection cup, allow the testing chemicals to react with the urine to identify any drugs that may be present in the sample. Five minutes is enough time to allow the testing process to be completed. 
4 Find the control and test regions on the panel. The control region is designed to always react to a urine sample to show that the test is functional. In addition to 1 control region, there will also be a test region that is specific to the drug being tested. If you’re using a multi-panel test, there will be multiple test regions that each correspond to a different drug.[4] 
5 Note that the test is positive if there is no line in the test region. The control region will always have a solid line appear. Check for a colored line next to the test regions. A colored line next to both the control region and the test region indicates that the test is negative for that drug. If there is a line in the control region but no line in the test region, then the result is a positive for that drug. 
6 Mail a positive test to the lab for further testing. If the panel does indicate a positive result, the only way to be completely sure that it’s accurate is to have further analysis in a lab. The packaging on the test includes a mailing address for you to send the panel to in order for the sample to be tested in a lab to confirm the presence of a particular drug. 
1 Match the results with the subject’s name and identification number. When you get your lab results, check to make sure that the results are for the person that was tested. Check the name and identification number listed on the results to be sure that they are correctly linked.[5] 
2 Look for a positive or negative result for each drug. The report will include a list of substances with a positive or negative result next to them. Look through the list of substances and identify which tested positive. That means that the subject has taken that drug.[6] 
3 Read the interpretation if there is one. The lab report may include notes that explain the test results. If the sample tested positive for a specific drug, the notes may say in clear language that the sample contains traces of the drug.[7] 
4 Check for any notes or abnormal test results. If the lab detected something abnormal when they tested the sample, they’ll mention it in the lab notes. They could indicate that they believe the sample was tampered with or that the results are inconclusive.[8]