Having the option to self-check at home with accurate, private, and affordable urine drug tests is what Exploro is all about. These modern medical devices have advanced so far that anyone could use them in a matter of minutes.
But why is at-home drug testing important? Who is it for, and what are the nuances surrounding the whole process?
Let’s talk about it.
Why Is At-Home Drug Testing Important?
With substance laws changing globally, so does the requirement for substance abuse checkups. That’s why there are whole industries out there that perform regular drug testing, especially for jobs with high responsibilities.
Also, with the spread of wellness culture, people realized that they can use drug tests to track their detox journeys, or to simply check on the nature of the substances they were using.
Lastly, being able to test yourself at home is a powerful tool for recovery. These tests allow people to understand the true state of things, without the stigma, and without the need to go to a laboratory.
Who Is At-Home Drug Testing For?
People often tend to assume that drug testing is closely related to some sort of criminal activity, or other type of “lawless” behavior.
But the truth is far from that. In today’s day and age, there’s more than a few scenarios where at-home urine drug testing is more than helpful. You can use an Exploro home drug test to:
- Prepare for an upcoming employment or pre-employment drug screening
- Get ready for a scheduled probation or compliance-related test
- Check your status before participating in a regulated athletic event
- Monitor your detox progress over time
- Track the effectiveness of tolerance breaks
- Stay aware of your personal health and substance-related habits
- Identify possible accidental exposure to substances
- Support early intervention for someone dealing with addiction by encouraging proactive checks
Again, these tests are not about stigmatizing users, but about providing them with clarity through accurate information, and peace of mind by showing how things really stand.
At-Home Urine Drug Test Basics
Now, the first thing to understand is that at-home urine drug tests do not test for the exact amount of substances in the system. They are of a qualitative nature, designed to detect either the presence or absence of drugs and/or their metabolites. So, every test (either at-home or lab) has a threshold above which the test will come back as positive. Which brings us to the topic of cutoff levels.
Cutoff levels
The cutoff level of an at-home urine drug test is the threshold that determines whether a test is positive or negative. Behind it is something called immunoassay technology. Essentially, the test contains antibodies that treat drugs and/or their metabolites as antigens. When they react at a certain level (measured in nanograms per milliliter, aka ng/ml), together with a coloring agent, they create a test line.
So, to put things simply – if the amount of drugs found is above the cutoff level, the test will be positive, and vice versa.
For a practical example, the standard cutoff level for a THC urine drug test is 50 ng/ml. This is a standard for both official drug screenings and at-home drug tests.
Other substances, since they’re metabolized differently, have different, standardized cutoffs.
Accuracy
Exploro’s at-home urine drug tests are above 95% accurate. What’s more, if the tests are used correctly, and you make sure they’re not damaged or expired, this accuracy goes up to 99%. So, for screening purposes, you will have a good perspective on how things stand, especially if you have an official drug screening coming up.
Which brings us to the subject of the testing process itself.
How to use Exploro at-home urine drug tests correctly
Since you’re performing the test yourself, cleanliness is essential for accurate results. The urine collection cup, the test strip or card, and your hands should all be as clean as possible.
When you’re ready to take the test, follow these steps:
- Check that the test kit is intact and not expired
- Carefully read the instructions provided with the kit before starting
- When collecting the urine sample, use a clean cup and avoid touching the inside to prevent contamination
- Dip the test strip or card into the urine up to the indicated line
- After the required immersion time, wait the specified amount of time and then read the results
*One extra tip – it’s best to use the first morning urine for the most accurate and trustworthy results. Also, try not to overhydrate before the test, since urine dilution can mess with the test results.
In Conclusion
No matter the reasons behind the decision to drug test at home, it’s important to have an option that is accurate, easy to use, affordable, and above all, private. Exploro offers just that.
So, instead of second-guessing whether you would pass an official drug test or wondering where you’re at on your detox journey, take the clarity path and use the power of modern medicine to test at home.