Ua test how long

Normal urine should range in color from clear to dark yellow. Dipstick Test Chemical testing usually involves inserting a thin strip of plastic known as a dipstick into the urine sample. Chemicals on the stick react with urine and change color to measure the following: 7. Sometimes small amounts of certain substances, such as proteins, can be found in urine and do not indicate a medical problem. Talk to your doctor about your urinalysis results, as the criteria for abnormal values can vary depending on age, gender, medical history, and other factors.

Before it is examined under a microscope, technicians spin the urine in a centrifuge in order to concentrate the solid particles and make them easy to examine. Microscopic examination might reveal the following: 3. Sometimes a healthcare provider will also order a urine culture to be performed with a urinalysis. A urine culture is used to grow bacteria found in the urine sample in order to diagnose an infection.

It usually takes several hours to get the results of a urinalysis, and one to three days for a urine culture to be complete. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. References Urinalysis. Cleveland Clinic. July 13, July 30, Mayo Clinic. December 28, There are several different methods of drug testing. The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for the concentration of the drug in the plasma or the total amount in the body to be reduced to 50 percent.

The half-life of a drug is also just an average duration of time, so it can vary greatly from person to person depending on other individual factors. It can also be used to predict the timeline for the onset of withdrawal symptoms, which can occur when certain drugs leave your body. Doctors often use this information when prescribing medication to determine the appropriate dosage amount and frequency for a patient. Drugs with long half-lives stay in your body longer than drugs with short half-lives.

This also means that drugs with long half-lives are typically detectable for longer in urine, blood, saliva, and hair drug tests. The length of time in which drugs can be detected in urine varies depending on several factors, like:. Different types of urine drug tests sometimes called urine drug screens can also produce different results. For example, an immunoassay IA urine test is the most common type of urine drug screen because it is fast and cost-effective. Another type of urine test called a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry GC-MS is used less frequently because it is more expensive and takes longer to get results.

However, it is more reliable and can detect a wider range of drugs than an IA test. Many people who abuse drugs try to beat drug tests but are generally unsuccessful.

While you can easily find home remedies and detox kits online that claim to flush drugs from your system and yield clean test results, they are rarely effective. Other attempts to dilute or manipulate specimens and results are often too obvious to be successful either. You may be required to take a drug test for any number of reasons, such as if it is requested by your doctor or an ER staff member. It may also be a requirement for a drug rehab program, sporting event, or be enforced as a workplace policy.

Instead of trying to beat a drug test, it might be time to get professional help and treatment for your drug abuse. This is called withdrawal. Many factors affect the length of time that a test can detect a certain drug in the body. These factors include:. If a person uses a drug very frequently or heavily, a urine test will detect the drug for a longer period.

For example, the detection times for marijuana can depend on how often a person uses it:. This table shows how long a urine test can detect certain drugs after a person has taken them:. The test requires little preparation. Usually, a person just has to urinate into a plastic container. It is important to note that certain medicines and supplements can cause false-positive results that indicate illegal drug use. A medical professional or technician will carry out the urine drug screen.

They may start by asking a person to:. The technician will then measure the temperature of the urine sample to ensure that it is suitable for testing. They will then seal the sample in a plastic bag. Both the donor and the technician should keep an eye on the sample until it is sealed, to make sure that no one has tampered with it. Sometimes, the technician will accompany the person into the test room to make sure that they are giving the sample correctly.

The technician should explain the reason for this supervision. Urine drug screen results usually come back within a few days. Some results come back on the same day. Negative results may come back more quickly. A positive result may take longer, because ensuring the accuracy may require further testing. If a result is positive, a person will need to take a second test for confirmation.

This will be a GC-MS test, which will provide more accurate results. A urine drug screen can quickly and effectively detect the presence of illegal or prescription drugs in the body. These screens can check for a range of drugs, including marijuana, nicotine, barbiturates, and opioids, such as heroin and methadone.

Some drugs remain traceable in the body longer than others. NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Learn about their uses, the possible side effects, and what….