How To Pass A Drug Test

Like it or not, routine drug testing is becoming increasingly common. Although we could write a thesis on the contradiction of regular drug testing in areas where those substances are now legal, that isn’t the focus of this article. Instead, we’re going to break down what you need to know about preparing for a drug test, and what method, if any, will help you provide a clean sample.

Preparing for a drug test

If you find yourself subjected to workplace drug testing, the first thing to know is that there are several forms of drug tests: blood tests, saliva tests, sweat tests, hair tests, and urine tests. While blood tests are the most accurate, they’re also the least common. Instead, many workplace drug tests involve providing a urine sample.

If you know when a drug test will occur, it’s possible to stop consuming weed and wait for traces to leave your body naturally. Luckily, evidence of marijuana in your urine only lasts 5–7 days for the occasional user. Daily users, however, could test positive over a month after abstaining, in some cases. So, if you're worried about rendering a positive result, you can consider getting a home test kit to see where you stand.

Are drug test kits legal?

The good news is that these kits (for the time being) are legal to buy. The not-so-good news is that they won’t match the accuracy of lab testing. That’s not to say they aren’t worth the effort, as testing positive on a home drug test kit can help you form a plan of action. Just remember that the results of your workplace will always supersede a home testing kit. Even if you test negative at home, but positive at work, the positive result is what will be considered.

Most people will try to contaminate or cover up their urine samples with household products. Unfortunately, this usually does more harm than good, as lab technicians are well-versed in this contamination and can quickly identify it.

Examples of what a lab will test your urine sample for

Scientists testing for drugs in urine follow a similar method as white blood cells searching for antigens in the body. When white blood cells find an antigen, they release binding antibodies. With drug testing, technicians attach antibodies to the bottom of a specialised plate and wash the sample over them.

The antibodies will latch on to any drug metabolites present in the urine sample. In this case, the antibodies are looking for traces of THC metabolites, namely:

• 11-OH-THC (11-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)
• THC-COOH (11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)

pH

Urine pH can vary between 5–8, with 7 being normal. Some household products frequently used to tamper with a urine sample can throw pH out of this window, so be careful.

Colour

If a urine sample is too clear, the lab will suspect that it has been diluted. As a result, they are highly likely to reject it on the grounds that they believe it has been tampered with, which in many cases will result in a retest.

Creatinine

Creatinine is a substance found in all vertebrates, and is present in our urine. The amount is often measured in the sample and compared to an average value. Anything outside of this value will cause you to “fail” your drug test.

How to pass a urine drug test: The natural approach

Let's assume you've got at least two weeks of preparation time, as any less is going to make it much harder to pass. If the test is only a couple weeks away, then take a look at the alternatives below.

Phase 1: Two weeks before the test

The first part of the process takes place over the first week and a half. During this time, you need to perform short bursts of hard exercise. Join your local sports centre/gym to get access to training equipment and a sauna. Your goal is to burn as much fat as possible while replacing the fluid you sweat out.

• Perform intense exercise: 15-minute sessions of your preferred HIIT exercise
• Use a sauna: 10-minute sessions, alternating with a cold shower
• Drink a lot of water
• Avoid fatty foods: THC is stored in fat cells

Phase 2: One day before your test

After the first week and a half, stop exercising altogether. It is now time to build up new fatty layers and urinate as much as you possibly can.

• Eat a lot of fatty food: Focus on red meat
• Try grapes or cranberry juice: These can encourage you to urinate
• Supplement with vitamin B: Helps urine appear more yellow

Disclaimer: This is an excellent way to flush your system, but it is not guaranteed. Follow the steps exactly—simply drinking lots of water or only using a sauna will not work by themselves. We take absolutely no responsibility should you fail.

How to pass a urine drug test: alternatives

Keep in mind, none of the methods listed below are 100% effective; you’re not so much learning how to pass, as learning how to increase your odds.

Detox kits: 5–10 days before test

Detox kits come in many forms—some you use over a matter of days, while others can be used for weeks prior as you work to clear THC metabolites from your body. Detox kits contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals, helping your body eliminate drug traces and ensuring your urine doesn't seem watered down.

Synthetic / replacement urine: Day of test

If you can get away with it, this is the method most likely to succeed. Synthetic urine is similar enough to real urine that most drug tests can’t detect it. The only thing that’ll give you away is if the sample is too cold. To avoid this, strap the synthetic urine to the inside of your thigh leading up to the test to warm it up.

Some synthetic urine packs even come with a fake penis, making it possible to use them even if you’re closely monitored (and happen to be male—sorry, ladies).

Drug testing hacks that don’t work

If you Google “how to pass a drug test”, you’ll find a slew of articles recommending everything from using a friend’s sample to cranberry juice. Most of this advice is useless, so to help you sort fact from fiction, here are some common myths on passing drug tests.

Drinking vinegar, energy drinks, or herbal teas

There’s nothing in these liquids that will disguise marijuana metabolites in your urine. This advice focuses on the diluted urine method, which, as we discussed, is flawed. Drink a Red Bull if you want some energy before your test, but don’t expect it to influence the results.

Consuming niacin

Niacin helps regulate blood pressure and metabolism, but if you’re looking to pass a test, it’s not going to help. It may have some detoxifying effects, but these are unlikely to make much of a difference in your results.

Adding Visine, ammonia, salt, drain cleaner, or a friend’s urine to your sample

Some try to beat a urine test by adding these adulterants. The logic behind salt, Visine, and other substances is that they can neutralise enzyme activity in your urine, resulting in a negative result. However, dissolved salt alters the density of your sample, making it easy to detect for any technician wise to this trick.

It’s also not a good idea to use a friend’s urine either. If your friend happened to have taken a toke and forgotten about it, you might end up failing anyway. Second, bacteria can grow on the surface of human urine. If left unrefrigerated for more than an hour, it might start going bad; an obvious tell to any technician that this stuff didn’t come from your body.

Useful products for passing urine drug tests

Mandatory urine tests can be scary and intimidating. That said, you’re not without options. Below are several products that might help you pass.

Quick Flush

Quick Flush contains vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B8, vitamin B12, dandelion root, red clover, folic acid, cocklebur root, rose hip fruit, chamomile, alfalfa leaf, slippery elm bark, liquorice root, and hibiscus flower. It is full of herbs and vitamins that can help to flush marijuana metabolites out of your body.

Quick Flush

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CleanUrin

CleanUrin is a form of mobile, synthetic urine. It has all the properties of natural urine and is indistinguishable from the real thing. It comes in an easy-to-open satchel that you can heat easily against the surface of the body. CleanUrin comes in three varieties labelled with red, yellow, or green identification marks, corresponding to different creatinine and pH levels.

CleanUrin

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ScreenyWeeny 5.0

If you’re being closely monitored during your urine test, the ScreenyWeeny might be your best bet. The fake penis connects to a pack of synthetic urine, which is released when you apply pressure to the penis in the right way. The ScreenyWeeny 5.0 comes in dark-skinned, light-skinned, and circumcised and uncircumcised varieties, providing options for any man.

ScreenyWeeny 6.0

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ScreenUrin Set 2.0

CleanU’s ScreenUrin Set 2.0 has it all. It includes a bag of synthetic urine, a replacement infusion bag, a refilling syringe, a strap-around thermal bag, two heat packs, and the ScreenUrin tube outlet system. If you’re a woman who has to pee sitting down while being watched, this system might be your best bet.

CleanU ScreenUrin Set 2.0 (also for women)

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Kleaner Urea Synthetic Urine

Kleaner Urea Synthetic Urine is another effective fake urine solution (provided you’re not being watched). It comes in 30ml bottles and is entirely free of any impurities or pollutants. If you have a series of drug tests to pass, it’s a straightforward option that won’t cost the earth.

Kleaner Urea Synthetic Urine (30ml)

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What happens if you don’t pass a drug test?

Regardless of the circumstances, the day has finally come, and you’ve tested positive for marijuana during a drug test. Now what? Well, not all is lost. For a start, many workplace drug testing policies include an appeals process. So if you’re convinced the test should be negative, that should be your first port of call. Second, some non-THC substances can provide a false positive. Again, asking for a retest or a more accurate analysis should help achieve your desired result.

In all cases, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with your employer’s drug testing policy and that of local law enforcement. Just remember, the best way to pass a drug test is abstinence so that substances have time to leave your body naturally. Failing that, the methods outlined above may help; good luck!

Miguel Antonio Ordoñez

With an AB Mass Media and Communications degree, Miguel Ordoñez is a veteran writer of 13 years and counting and has been covering cannabis-related content since 2017. Continuous, meticulous research along with personal experience has helped him build a deep well of knowledge on the subject.

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