How to Store Urine for a Drug Test

There are many reasons you might need to preserve a urine sample for an upcoming drug test. You might have someone provide clean urine to help you pass the test smoothly, or you may want to store your own clean sample for later use. Whether you're preserving your own sample or someone else's, the sooner you use it, the more accurate the results will be. Store the urine in an airtight container and refrigerate or freeze it if you won't be using it within an hour of collection. On the day of testing, just warm the sample back to body temperature.

Collect the sample as close to the testing date and time as possible. Urine begins to oxidize and break down quickly once it leaves the body, causing it to darken in color and develop a stronger odor. The longer urine is outside the body, the less reliable it becomes for drug testing.

• For the sample to appear the most credible, it should be clean and warm.

Store urine in a tightly sealed glass or plastic container. You need to ensure that the container is completely airtight to prevent any spillage. Use plastic containers for short-term storage and glass containers for longer preservation, as certain chemicals in plastic could leach into the urine.

• You can also place the urine container inside a sealed plastic bag for added protection.
• If you plan to store the urine for a long period, label the container with the collection date.
• Note: Glass can break if exposed to sudden temperature changes.

Warm the urine sample for a short time using a heat pad. If you plan to use the urine within an hour of collection, store it in a small airtight container (such as a pill bottle). Maintain its warmth with a heat pad. Just before submitting the sample for testing, remove the heat pad to allow the urine to return to body temperature.

• Use an elastic band to secure the heat pad around the container.

Cool the urine as soon as possible if you plan to use it after an hour. The sooner you chill the sample, the more viable it will be for testing. Ideally, refrigerate it within 30 minutes of collection.

• Use or freeze the urine within one day of collection.

Freeze the urine sample if you plan to use it within a year. If you don't plan to use the sample within 24 hours, freezing is the best option. Store the urine in an airtight container and use it within a year of collection.

• There is varying opinion on the exact freezing duration for usable urine. Generally, the sooner you use it, the better.
• Make sure that the frozen sample is clean. Urine containing THC, when frozen, can cause an increase in concentration.

Thaw the urine overnight at room temperature. The best way to return the urine sample to room temperature is to thaw it naturally. Using a microwave may cause the sample to spoil and become unusable.

• The sample must be used within one day of thawing.

Use a warm compress, microwave, or heat pad to warm the urine. Once the sample reaches room temperature, you need to increase its temperature to body temperature or even slightly higher. Wrap the container in a warm compress or heat pad, or microwave it for about 10 seconds. If using a microwave, it’s better to hold the container in a heat pad to maintain warmth during transportation.

• Ideally, make the container slightly warmer than body temperature to account for the urine cooling during transport to the testing location.

Keep the urine sample close to your body before use. Carrying the urine container close to your body helps maintain the sample temperature close to body temperature. The accepted temperature range for a urine sample is between 32 - 38°C.

• Try to keep the sample in the lower part of your body, such as between your thighs, to help maintain its warmth.