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Members' Area How to read a drug test cup

Published:

July 7, 2020

Last Updated:

November 6, 2025

Workplace safety is an increasingly important topic for all business leaders, and drug testing has become a crucial component of this. In this article you will learn the intricacies of using a drug test cup, a device designed for simplicity and accuracy in detecting substance use. With built-in test strips, the process is streamlined, requiring only the insertion of a key to activate and deliver results in minutes.

As the industry standard shifts towards a more comprehensive 10-drug test cup, the article explores its effectiveness in not just detecting a wider range of substances but also identifying attempts at adulteration or dilution. From the procedure of collecting a urine sample under strict privacy protocols to the interpretation of results (including the significance of temperature checks and the understanding of faint lines) the article will be a comprehensive guide that you can continue to refer back to.

Whether you’re an employer or a safety officer, we aim to equip you with the knowledge to implement effective drug testing protocols in your workplace, ensuring a safer environment for all.

Contents

• How to carry out a 10 drug panel test
• 10 Drug Test Cup Instructions
• How to read the temperature strip on a drug test
• How to read drug test cup results.
• What does a negative test look like?
• What do faint lines on a drug test mean?

How to carry out a 10 drug panel test

Conducting a 10 drug panel test involves a detailed procedure to ensure accuracy and integrity. The process begins with the collection of a urine sample under strict chain of custody protocols. This is crucial to maintain privacy and prevent tampering with the sample.

The donor is informed about the process, emphasising their privacy and data protection rights, and is required to sign a consent form acknowledging understanding and agreement.

The steps include preparing the test environment, ensuring the donor’s comfort and understanding, and meticulously following procedures for sample collection, handling, and analysis to guarantee the reliability of the test results.

10 Drug Test Cup Instructions

1. Place the cup on a flat and level surface.
2. Remove the “key” from the lid of the cup and insert the key into the socket on the side of the cup.
3. Peel off the sticker, which is covering the results window.
4. Time 5 minutes.
5. Negative results can be read as soon as 1 minute, but for positive results you must wait the full 5 minute read time of the test.

How to read the temperature strip on a drug test

When the urine sample has been provided by the donor and sealed inside their 10 drug testing cup, the operator would check the temperature sticker on the side of the urine drug test kit. It can read anywhere from 33 degrees Celsius up to 38 degrees C. As long as the temperature sticker glows green (and this doesn’t just disappear within about 3 seconds), this is considered to be a legitimate body temperature sample.

How to read drug test cup results.

When reading the results on one of our 10 drug integrated test cups you are essentially looking for any test or control lines which may be missing.

You will see a control line at the top of each test strip within the device (marked by a small “C”) and a test line below – which is present for each of the drugs tested for (marked with a small “T”, or 1, 2, or 3). If there is any kind of adulterant present from a patient’s attempts at contamination of the sample – such as adding bleach – the control lines will not form. If any of the ten classes of drug we are looking for are positive, the test line for that corresponding drug will be absent.

This is because the drug has bound itself to the chemistry within the test and prevented the purple / magenta line from forming where it should have. When this happens, it is obvious. No matter what angle you hold the test, or what light source you use, the line cannot be seen – it is simply missing.

What does a negative test look like?

A fully negative and unadulterated sample will display a total of 15 purple / magenta coloured bands. This will be made up of 4 lines on the left-most test strip – which tests for 3 different drugs, 4 lines on the next strip, 3 lines on the next strip – which tests for two drugs, along with 2 lines on every other strip.

What do faint lines on a drug test mean?

In rare cases, where someone has previously used the drug you are testing for, they may show a faint line on their drug test. You must still interpret this as negative. i.e. A line is a line. The reason for this is that this person MUST have abstained from the drug for a number of days before getting to such a low level of drug in their body to test negative. It is just the last traces of drug leaving their system, so at this point they are technically negative. However, this is not the only reason that a faint line can occur.

Different drug types are also being tested for at different cut-off levels, so you cannot compare the intensity of different test lines with each other. Just remember, a line is a line, no matter the intensity – and a line in the test area of each strip indicates a negative result.

Negative results can be read as soon as you see the test lines appearing, but please allow 5 minutes before determining a positive result.

The test also includes a check for pH, specific gravity and oxidants. Simply use the colour chart if the test results do not appear, or if the sample is particularly light in colour. In the event of a positive, the laboratory also test for these parameters.

If you still need assistance with how to read a drug test cup, or would like to place an order for drug testing kits, please call us on 01283 375093 or contact us via email. We would be happy to help. Alternatively, visit our online shop to order online.

About The Author

By Chris

July 7, 2020

Christopher Evans is the Laboratory Director of Medical, Health and Education Ltd, the UK's fastest workplace drug testing laboratory, which delivers same day LC-MS/MS test results as standard. He is an author, entrepreneur and industry expert with over 20 years of experience and is redefining the standard in ultra-fast turnaround workplace drug testing.

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