Urine Drug Screen
A urine test that checks for certain drugs or medicines in the body.
Quick Summary
To check for drug use in medical care, addiction treatment or as required by employers.
Common drug groups such as opioids, cannabis, benzodiazepines and amphetamines.
Tell staff about prescribed medicines, which can affect results.
Overview
Screening tests can give false positives; positive results are confirmed with lab tests.
Testing should be done with consent.
What It Measures
Drug groups
Presence or absence.
How It's Performed
- 01
Clean catch
Wash your hands and genital area.
- 02
Midstream sample
Pass a little urine into the toilet, then collect the middle part in the sterile container.
- 03
Hand in
Close the lid and return it promptly.
Interpreting Results & Next Steps
Discuss with Doctor
Your doctor will explain what your result means and what happens next.
If values are High:
Positive screens are usually confirmed with a more specific test.
Sources and further reading
Last updated 21 October 2026. For more detail, see these trusted health organisations.
- Drug Testing(opens in a new tab) · MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine