How to Pass a Surprise Drug Test

If you need to pass a surprise drug test, the first thing to understand is that current testing technology has progressed to the point where common methods to fake results, such as adding salt to urine samples or using synthetic urine, are mostly detectable. The most effective way to succeed is to prepare your body as early as possible by stopping drug use once you know a test is coming. If there isn't enough time to clear the drugs from your system, there are still last-ditch techniques you can try to pass the test. And when all else fails, knowing your rights could help you navigate out of the situation. Keep reading to learn the best ways to handle a surprise drug test.

Allow as much time as possible. The longer the time between your last drug use and the test day, the better your chances of passing. If you have time to prepare, use it wisely and stop using drugs until your test results are acceptable. Regardless of what type of drug you've used, it’s better to quit before the test rather than relying on commonly ineffective methods to fake the results.

• If the drug test is conducted by your employer, you are likely to be notified in advance, although you may not know the exact day. However, you will be informed about the week of the test. Be aware of company policies so you can prepare rather than being caught off guard.
• If you're being tested during probation, drug tests are often scheduled in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute; get your body ready ahead of time.
• Of course, there are times when you can't prepare for a test. If you're pulled over and the police suspect you're under the influence, you may be required to take an immediate test. While unplanned tests are difficult to pass, there are still ways to improve your chances of escaping trouble.

Understand what type of test you will undergo. There are four main types of drug tests: urine, blood, saliva, and hair tests. These tests screen for five main categories of drugs, including stimulant drugs (speed, meth, crank, ecstasy), cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish), cocaine (coke, crack), opiates (heroin, morphine, opium, codeine), and phencyclidine (PCP). Advances in testing technology have made it harder to fake results, but knowing the differences between testing methods can be very helpful when you find yourself in an unexpected situation. Below is a detailed breakdown of each testing method:

• Urine test is the most common method used by employers. This is the easiest test to manipulate because you have privacy during the collection process (unless you are being supervised).
• Blood test is typically used when you’re stopped by law enforcement and they suspect you are under the influence. This method is hard to cheat because it can accurately measure the level of drugs in your system. However, if several days have passed since you last used, the results are more likely to be negative compared to a urine test.
• Saliva test is used when urine or blood tests are not feasible, as it is less invasive. The sensitivity of this method is lower than that of blood testing.
• Hair test is extremely difficult to falsify. Around 120 hair follicles are analyzed to determine if they contain traces of drugs. Because it takes about two weeks for hair to grow long enough for testing, this method can’t detect drug use in the past two weeks, but drug traces can remain in hair for up to 90 days, making it a reliable method to identify habitual drug use.

Determine how much drug is in your system. The type of test you choose to attempt to pass depends on how much drug you think is in your body. For example, if you only occasionally use marijuana, it is unlikely to be detected if tested a few days later. However, frequent marijuana use, cocaine use, sedatives, and other narcotics can be detected even if you take a test 15 to 30 days later.

• If you are a regular marijuana user, the test will likely return a positive result. However, if you only use it occasionally, you might still have a chance to cleanse your body in time for a negative test result.
• Remember that if you're undergoing a hair test, anything you've used in the last 90 days (except for the past two weeks) will be detected.

Know which test to choose. Typically, you won’t be able to choose the testing method when you’re caught for a drug test, but sometimes you can choose between urine, blood, saliva, or hair tests. Rather than trying to alter the results, you’ll have a better chance if you select the test method that is least likely to show a positive result. Of course, there’s no guarantee that you’ll pass the test, but it’s worth knowing which method offers you the best chance to pass.

• If you’ve only used drugs a few times, and it was at least a week ago, you should choose a blood or saliva test, as most drugs will clear from your blood within a few hours or days.
• If you’re high when taking the test, opt for a urine test because it’s less accurate than a blood test in determining the exact amount of drugs in your system. A urine test doesn’t measure THC concentration, so even if you don’t pass, there’s no proof that you were out of control when you took the test.
• If you tried drugs for the first time last week or a little longer ago, and you’re given the choice of a hair test, that’s your best option. Anything you’ve used in the last one or two weeks won’t show up, but anything beyond that will leave traces for up to 90 days.
• If you are a heavy drug user, avoid the hair test, as it will be very difficult to deny drug use with the results.

Don't try to add other substances or dilute your urine sample. Urine analysis machines can detect this, and they can even analyze what substances you might have added to the sample. Household chemicals, such as bleach, salt, or vinegar, will completely alter the pH level of the urine, signaling that the sample has been tampered with. Diluting the sample with water is also easy to spot due to changes in color and/or temperature; a completely clear urine sample will definitely be rejected, even if it’s still slightly warm.

• Don't believe rumors that drinking bleach will cleanse your urine. Bleach can burn your mouth, throat, and even puncture your stomach, potentially leading to death. Plus, it won't hide anything in your urine sample.
• Don’t fall for misleading ads about products that claim to make your drug test negative by adding something to your urine. These products don’t actually work.

Drink plenty of water starting the day before the test. By increasing your water intake, you’ll dilute your urine sample. This method isn’t very effective if you’re a heavy user, but it may help if you’ve only used drugs a few times.

• There is no special drink or compound that can 'cleanse' your body or detoxify you better than water. No evidence supports that substances like golden seal root, vinegar, niacin, or vitamin C have any impact on drug metabolite levels in your body.
• Take some vitamin B tablets the day before your test to give your urine a yellow color. If your urine is too clear, the test administrator may become suspicious.

Urinate as much as possible before the test. This will help expel the remaining drugs from your body. Drink plenty of water on the morning of the test and try to urinate as much as you can before the sample is taken.

• Boost the amount of water expelled from your body by using diuretics. These can stimulate urination and help detoxify your system. Diuretics include coffee, tea, and cranberry juice. Strong diuretic drugs like furosemide can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription.
• Drug metabolites tend to build up in your system while you sleep, so your first urine of the morning will have the highest concentration of drug residues. Be sure to urinate before your sample is taken, and drink lots of water to dilute the urine.
• If you’re not being monitored, try urinating in the toilet first and then transferring the sample to the collection cup; the first urine usually contains the highest concentration of metabolites.

Consider using synthetic urine or clean urine from someone else. This is easier said than done, so consider it only as a last resort (you could be penalized if caught). You can buy synthetic urine or ask someone who doesn’t use drugs for a sample. The key to avoiding detection is keeping the sample at the correct temperature (32 to 36°C) and sneaking it into the testing area. Synthetic urine kits, which include the urine and a device to keep it warm, are available online or at stores that sell smoking supplies.

• Synthetic urine typically passes drug tests, but some places are now testing for uric acid levels as well. Make sure the synthetic urine you buy lists uric acid as an ingredient.
• Synthetic urine also has an ammonia-like smell. Urine without a smell will raise suspicion with the tester.
• The most critical factor is maintaining the correct temperature. If the sample is too hot or too cold, it’s a huge giveaway that you’ve altered the sample.
• Using someone else’s urine is riskier than using synthetic urine because you never know what might show up in the test results. You can test the sample yourself first with a test kit from a drugstore. Use the urine within 48 hours, as after that, it will darken and the pH level may change.

Try to delay the blood or saliva test. If there's any way to postpone the test, you have a higher chance of passing. Most drugs won't show up in a blood or saliva sample after a few hours, but some particular ones may remain in the blood for up to 3 days or even longer. No matter what drug you're using, your chances of passing the test will always be higher if you can delay the test by a day or two, or as long as possible.

• If you can't delay the saliva test, you can still increase the chances of a clean sample. When taking the oral swab test, instead of rubbing the swab between the inside of your cheek and gums as required, try rubbing it on your teeth. Then, when asked to hold the swab in place between your cheek and gums for two minutes, bite down and hold it with your molars. It may not be very effective, but it's worth a try if done correctly.
• There's really no way to fake a blood sample because the blood must be drawn with a needle and immediately sent for testing.

Shave your head and body hair before the hair test. Since your hair will be cut at the testing site (not pre-cut and submitted), there's nothing much you can do to change the hair test results. However, if you have no hair anywhere on your body, you can request a different test that may be easier to pass. If the drug test administrators have never met you before and you haven’t agreed to provide a hair sample, you can shave your head and all body hair (especially in dense, long areas) and act carefree, informing them that you have no hair to give. Then, ask for an alternative test.

• Make sure to have a convincing story ready for why you shaved your head. You could say your hair was falling out or you’re trying a new look. Avoid fabricating a serious medical condition (e.g., cancer) to explain your hairless state, as this could lead to long-term issues.
• Since hair or body hair samples only need to be about 2.5 cm long, be aware that they might ask for samples from other areas like armpit hair or leg hair. This might be the time to shave all body hair and pretend you’re a competitive swimmer.

Find ways to avoid taking the test. Since blood, saliva, and hair tests are hard to fake, you should focus on finding ways to get out of taking the test. Here are a few methods:

• Request a urine test. If you think you can pass a urine test because your sample has been diluted, or you don’t want to take a blood test because it might reveal you’re under the influence, try to see if you can opt for a urine test instead. Just tell them you find it less invasive to your privacy.
• Exercise your rights. In some cases, the person conducting the test may not have the authority to require you to take the test. Familiarize yourself with drug laws, regulations regarding addictive substances, and read the employer’s drug testing policies. Look for loopholes that could help you avoid or delay the testing process.

Review the legal documents regarding drug testing policies in your area. Different places have varying policies regarding drug testing. Some laws require that both new hires and current employees undergo drug tests. In most cases, employers are legally allowed to require drug testing within the workplace, but only if there is prior notice and the test is done at an officially recognized laboratory. Common regulations include the following:

• Everyone applying for or working at a job must be tested equally.
• If a job applicant is in the process of applying for a position, the drug testing requirement must be disclosed at the time of the application.
• In many cases, employers cannot mandate random drug tests or require testing without prior notice.
• In some situations, employers may test an employee if they have reasonable suspicion that the person is using drugs or substances (e.g., erratic behavior, poor work performance, etc.).

Yêu cầu được xét nghiệm lần nữa nếu bạn có cơ hội. Không một xét nghiệm nào có độ chính xác 100% cả. Xét nghiệm nước tiểu là phương pháp xét nghiệm có độ chính xác thấp nhất, nhưng tất cả các phương pháp đều có thể sai. Hãy tận dụng điều này nếu như bạn lỡ trượt lần xét nghiệm đầu. Khi bạn nhận kết quả dương tính, thì không có hại gì nếu như bạn yêu cầu được xét nghiệm lại; cứ nói là bạn không đồng tình với kết quả xét nghiệm và muốn thử lại một lần nữa.

Xem xét việc không chấp nhận kết quả xét nghiệm nếu như bạn bị dương tính. Dù người chủ lao động làm đúng theo luật có quyền sa thải bạn nếu như kết quả xét nghiệm dương tính hoặc bạn từ chối làm xét nghiệm, thì bạn có thể không chấp nhận kết quả xét nghiệm nếu như việc kiểm tra không tiến hành theo đúng quy định. Xem lại các chính sách của công ty và các bộ luật hiện hành và bảo đảm là chúng giống nhau. Nếu có mâu thuẫn trong các điều lệ thì bạn có quyền hủy bỏ kết quả xét nghiệm, cho bạn một cơ hội để làm xét nghiệm lại.

• Kiểm tra phòng thí nghiệm làm phân tích mẫu thử để bảo đảm là các cơ sở này được công nhận bởi nhà nước.
• Để ý xem người chủ lao động có thông báo rõ ràng từ trước không.
• Xác định xem bạn có phải trải qua một quy trình mà bạn tin là xâm phạm quyền riêng tư một cách vô lý, ví dụ như bạn bị yêu cầu phải tiểu để lấy mẫu ngay trước mặt một ai đó canh chừng.

• Xét nghiệm nước tiểu không chính xác 100%. Không có phương pháp nào chính xác tuyệt đối cả.
• Bạn luôn có thể yêu cầu xét nghiệm lại, việc này sẽ trì hoãn cho bạn thêm một chút thời gian. Sau tất cả thì thời gian và sự tiết chế là cách duy nhất để vượt qua cuộc kiểm tra.
• Đừng dùng ma túy. Nó có rất nhiều tác dụng phụ và là chất cấm bất hợp pháp ở rất nhiều đất nước.

• Using fake urine is considered cheating and can lead to severe penalties, especially if the urine analysis is mandated by the government. If the test is for a job application, you could try to flush your system with water and leave the rest to fate or look for a job that doesn’t require drug testing.