Dollar Tree drug tests are inexpensive and easy to use. They promise quick and accurate results. With such claims, it can be tempting to grab one from their shelves whenever you need to get tested. But, for a few dollars, are these tests reliable?
Home drug tests, like the Dollar Tree drug tests, are relatively sensitive to the presence of drugs in the urine, but they aren’t 100% accurate. If the initial test results are positive, you should submit your urine sample to a laboratory for a second test.
How reliable are drug tests from Dollar Tree? Read on.
Do They Really Have 99% Accuracy?
Home drug tests are commercially accessible kits purchased in shops such as Dollar Tree. Kits for testing saliva, urine, and hair follicle are available. However, urine test is the most popular.
Drug kits typically comprise a collection cup, the test strip, and instructions. Some kits also include shipping containers if you need to submit your sample to a lab for additional examination.
According to their package, the test is “98% accurate,” with instant results available within five minutes. You do the test by dipping the single-use strip into a urine sample. Some manufacturers even claim that their home drug kits are 99% accurate.
However, we know that lab tests are more accurate than home testing; thus, a 99% accuracy rate is likely false.
A more realistic assertion is that a test has 99% sensitivity in detecting drugs without specifying the amount. The quantity of a substance detected may not be sufficient to fail a drug test.
A lab test, on the other hand, informs you how near you are to the limit and provides a pass/fail rating. Remember that various reasons might result in a false positive or negative.
In the workplace, many conduct random drug tests. Even though marijuana is now legal in most states, many employers continue to do drug tests on their workers.
But most of the time, drug screening samples are taken at a clinic. Some employers also choose to use mobile testing at their places of business.
Drug kits can be inconsistent, with the test levels varying from box to box in each batch. Many of those purchasing these goods are users who are checking because they have a drug test coming up at work or something similar.
If you have an impending drug test and are unclear if you will pass, you may try taking a Dollar Tree drug test beforehand.
Are They FDA Approved?
In short, the Dollar Tree Drug Test kit is not FDA-approved. Reliable home test kits must undergo a rigorous screening and approval procedure to qualify for FDA clearance.
Although these tests are unquestionably pretty accurate and sensitive than ever, they still fall short of lab tests. Furthermore, even if you utilize the best at-home drug testing kits, you might still make errors that alter the result.
Is your urine, for example, at the optimal or acceptable temperature? Even the best home drug kits may be unreliable by incorrect usage.
According to the FDA, it is critical to get further testing at the laboratory for confirmation of a positive result since certain meals, beverages, supplements, and prescriptions might impact the findings of an at-home drug test.
Laboratory tests recommended by a doctor are the most accurate technique to identify drug usage.
While at-home tests may give helpful information, it is not a substitute for testing conducted in a laboratory or doctor’s office.
There is some indication that FDA-approved tests are equally accurate as lab tests, but there is no convincing data to support this assertion.
When Should You Use The Test Strips?
If you know a drug test is coming up, you should ensure your system is clean. Home drug test is an inexpensive and handy method to do this.
If you test negative, you may take a breather and refrain from using drugs until after your screening. You know you need to do more to cleanse your system if you test positive.
Parents who believe their kid is taking drugs may also benefit from home drug testing. Others may use it if their child’s behavior or mood changes unexpectedly and they suspect drugs are involved.
At such a low cost and with immediate findings, the test appeals to people concerned about probable drug usage.
The primary benefit of a home drug test is its quickness. In contrast to the 24-48 hours it takes to discover if you received a positive or negative result from a lab, you will know the findings in minutes.
Most people like the dollar store drug test because it is cheap. While it is not as good as a drug test ordered by a Medical Review Officer (MRO), it will give you a good idea of whether your urine returns positive or negative.
It is a good idea to take one of these tests if you have a coming-up drug test, just to give you a better idea of what to expect.
Does The Marijuana Drug Test At The Dollar Tree Work?
Although some home marijuana drug tests claim to be 99% reliable, the findings of these tests may change under various circumstances. The following factors may have an impact on the accuracy of home drug kits:
- Is the test carried out properly?
- Was the collection completed during the detection window?
- Is there anything else in the body that might alter the test results? Some medication combinations cause false positives.
- Is the sample contaminant-free?
- Is the pee at the proper temperature (96-99 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 degrees Celsius)?
If you cannot honestly respond yes or no to each of these questions, taking an at-home drug test is meaningless. A test cannot be 100% accurate until a competent lab retests it.
A false positive may arise due to prescription or over-the-counter medications. A false negative might result from an expired test, incorrect storage, or doing the test too early or too late.
Despite what many home drug testing companies say, their findings are less reliable than a lab test. A laboratory screening employs modern technology, resulting in much fewer false positives.
How Accurate Are Home Drug Test Kits?
If you decide to undertake home drug testing, read the instructions carefully and thoroughly. It would help if you did this before collecting your sample since examining it too soon or too late may affect your findings.
Pay special attention to the accuracy window for the chemical you are testing for and how you perform the test.
Confirmation testing is required since a self-test may not offer final findings and might provide incorrect results. When buying an at-home drug test, be sure it includes laboratory-based confirmatory testing. Many self-test kits do not provide this function but give preliminary findings.
Laboratory drug testing is the best option when accurate test results are required, mainly when there are ramifications for a positive test result.
Healthcare professionals take numerous procedures that at-home tests cannot verify that the testing is correct and the sample has not been tampered with.
Conclusion
While home drug tests may help predict whether or not you will pass screening, one should not use them as a guarantee.
The only way to be sure you will pass the test is to abstain from illegal or recreational drugs for an extended time. If you’re really worried, you may invest in a lab test, which will give you a better idea of what to expect on test day.
