What happens if you overexpose a pregnancy test in your urine?

How long do drugs stay in urine?

Psychotropic substances are determined in biological fluids (saliva, urine, blood) 1-60 minutes after consumption. After the drug stops working, its metabolites (decomposition products) remain in the body. They disappear from urine most quickly and remain longer in the blood, nail plates, and hair.

The rate of elimination depends on the dose of the drug, the presence of impurities, period of use, the presence of chronic diseases and even the person’s weight. The more obese the addict, the slower the body cleanses itself (due to the accumulation of the drug in the tissues). The type of psychotropic is also of great importance. On average, urine becomes “clean”:

• when using heroin and its derivatives after 2-4 days;
• methadone – 7-30 days;
• marijuana – 4-48 days;
• cocaine – 2-5 days;
• amphetamines and derivatives – 1-5 days;
• tranquilizers (benzodiazepines) – 1-7 days;
• LSD – 10 days;
• barbiturates – 2 hours – 5 days.

With repeated use, the elimination period increases significantly. For experienced drug addicts, tests may be positive for several weeks, or even months after the start of abstinence.

How long can urine be stored for analysis?

We figured out how much urine is needed for analysis, but how long does it stay in the house, how long does it take to deliver it to the clinic? Usually tests are taken in the morning. How long does it take to get tested? They are seen at the clinic from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. But you need to check these numbers with your doctor in advance; different hospitals have their own schedule; in some places they receive them until 9.30 or even before 9. How long it takes to prepare the result depends on the type of analysis. The attending physician should know exactly when the results will be ready and inform you about it.

How long can urine intended for analysis be stored? Doctors say that it does not last longer than 1.5 -2 hours, after which it becomes of little use, so only the material that you collected in the morning and immediately brought to the laboratory is suitable. If urine is kept in the refrigerator, its basic properties can be preserved. Then you need to warn the doctor that you have kept her at home for some time. How long is a urine test valid? On average - 14 days, after which you need to retake them.

What rapid drug tests can do

The direct purpose of rapid tests is to quickly determine the presence of narcotic substances in biological fluids. Diagnostics can be carried out at home, a medical facility or any other place convenient for collecting material. What express strips and systems can do:

• establish the fact of drug use;
• identify what substance the person being tested took.

If the test result is positive, it is recommended that the collected material be retested in the laboratory.

It should be borne in mind that with a slight change in the chemical formula of the drug, the answer may be false negative. A false positive reaction is also possible, for example, if a person has recently been treated with certain drugs.

How to bypass the cannabinoid test?

“Experienced” advisers believe that it is not difficult to deceive the results of testing in urine, blood and saliva if there is time before collecting the material for analysis. To do this, here are ways to quickly cleanse the body:

• drink a large amount of water (4–5 liters per day) and at the same time take a fast-acting diuretic
• dramatically increase physical activity
• take a steam bath
• undergo emergency detoxification in a hospital setting

To bypass the saliva or urine test for cannabinoids, some people mix lemon juice or soda into the sample. Due to an unclear reaction, a repeat will be required, and the deadline will be delayed. The last option is to donate someone else's urine and saliva.

Narcologists warn that marijuana metabolites are highly soluble in fat, so it is not possible to quickly rid the body of them. Additional methods involve controlled sampling of blood or hair; they cannot be fooled. It’s better to come to terms with it and think about quitting the drug.

How the test works

The mechanism for determining drugs in urine is based on the activation of reagents. The test involves applying special chemicals that react in a “clean” biological fluid and turn red.

When interacting with drugs, the color of the reagent remains unchanged (the opposite principle from pregnancy tests). Also, to check the serviceability of each system or strip, there is a zone that normally always turns red. It follows that 1 red line means the result is positive, 2 is negative, 0 is erroneous.

When is a 24-hour urine test prescribed?

A 24-hour urine test is prescribed primarily to check the functioning of the kidneys, as well as to monitor substances excreted from the body in the urine during the day.

Indications for prescribing a 24-hour urine test are:

• suspicion of certain kidney diseases;
• diabetes. The test is used to monitor daily urine glucose levels;
• pregnancy. The test is used to assess how well the expectant mother's kidneys cope with increased stress.

Advantages of rapid tests

Pharmacy systems and strips are very popular and have a sufficient number of advantages. Benefits include:

• ease of use;
• quick results;
• anonymity;
• availability both in price and availability in pharmacies;
• sufficient quantitative characteristics (up to 10 groups of drugs are determined).

Rapid tests allow you to conduct research yourself at home without unnecessary publicity.

For example, testing is important before going to a narcologist for a certificate. In this way, parents can secretly check on their children without resorting to scandals and manipulations. The strips can save lives when a drug addict has overdosed and in order to administer an antidote, it is necessary to quickly find out what substance he was using.

How to test for cannabinoids in urine?

The most popular is the rapid strip test. They can be purchased at the pharmacy. They are produced by different companies, but are similar in application. The package usually contains 25 pieces. Testing is carried out using morning urine; 2 ml is required for analysis.

The principle of immunochromatographic interaction: the material is absorbed by certain areas of the strip; if marijuana is present in it, it reacts with specific antibodies of the composition impregnating the strip. The antigen-antibody complex gives a pink color with the help of fuchsin included in the composition.

Types of strips and systems

Until recently, rapid tests were exclusively imported and intended for medical purposes. Now similar products have begun to be produced in Russia, and they have become available to a wide range of the population. What types exist and what are their features:

1. Single paper or plastic strips. The most accessible group of goods, while one test can detect only a certain type of drug. To conduct a comprehensive study, several strips will be required. They have sensitivity from 50 to 2000 ng/ml depending on the substance.
2. Multi-component system. Multipanels allow you to determine the content of several narcotic substances at once (from 2 to 10). Some of them are designed for saliva testing. They are often equipped with containers for collecting test liquids. They cost several times more than regular strips.

The reliability of the results of rapid tests for drug addiction is 96-97%.

How long before you take a pregnancy test after sex?

Fertilization of the egg occurs within 12 hours after successful sexual intercourse. However, it is impossible to determine this point using tests. In addition, it will take a week or more for the embryo to move into the uterus and implant into its wall. As soon as this happens, the production of the hormone gonadotropin will begin. It is he who helps determine pregnancy.

So, hCG appears in the body on average 7-10 days after conception. Then its amount doubles every 2-3 days. In the second or third month of pregnancy, its concentration reaches its maximum.

Accordingly, the test is done no earlier than a week after sex.

On what day of delay should I take the test?

If the cycle is regular, then you can buy tests already for 1-3 days of delay. If not, it is better to wait at least another 2-3 days or get tested several times with an interval of three days.

In cases where a woman does everything to get pregnant, she can try to find out the result even a couple of days before the expected menstruation. To do this, she will need an inkjet or electronic test, since other options are not sensitive enough for such a short period.

On the 7th day of delay, in the absence of specific diseases and correct use, any tests will reliably show whether a woman is pregnant or not.

When will the test show pregnancy?

The answer to this question is in the instructions, since each product is individual. As a rule, the waiting time does not exceed 20 minutes. Strips take longer, but inkjet, electronic and flatbed wands are quicker.

Another criterion is the gestational age. The smaller it is, the longer the result appears. In a test with low sensitivity, daytime and evening urine may generally give a false negative answer.

There is a separate category of cases involving test strips that are misleading. The product may not detect pregnancy after the indicated period of time. However, after an hour or even a day, a second stripe will appear on it. It does not necessarily indicate a successful conception. It is better to play it safe and go through the procedure again or contact a gynecologist.

What drugs can be detected using a rapid test?

Once in the body, each psychotropic breaks down into certain substances - metabolites. For example, heroin and codeine are converted to morphine. In total, modern rapid tests detect 10 types of drugs:

• opiates, morphine (MOR);
• cannabinoids, marijuana (THC);
• amphetamines (AMP);
• methamphetamines (MET);
• barbiturates (BAR);
• tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs);
• benzodiazepine (BZO);
• ecstasy (MDMA);
• methadone (MTD);
• cocaine (COS).

Separately, there are tests to determine the presence of ethanol and nicotine (cotinine) in the urine. Smoking and alcoholism are also drug addictions.

How long are blood tests valid?

Blood tests are taken at least as often as OAM. Moreover, there are much more variations of examinations based on blood tests than on urine tests. Obviously, blood tests can help doctors determine or confirm the presence of pathologies and find out the causes of the inflammatory process.

KLAs are also carried out for the purpose of prevention and are regularly required to be taken to work and educational institutions. But how long are a general blood test and other conclusions based on her condition valid?

General blood analysis

A general blood test is the same preventive examination as OAM. It shows the presence of infectious and inflammatory processes in the human body. OAC is performed at an early stage of the disease to enable the attending physician to prescribe the most accurate and correct course of treatment as possible. Prescribed at the end of the treatment period and for preventive purposes.

During the examination, the laboratory technician determines the type of pathology: infectious, hematological or inflammatory. The patient's blood is checked for platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells and ESR. Laboratory results are valid for 10 to 14 days.

Brands and manufacturers

Rapid tests are produced by several pharmaceutical companies. In Russia the following are available for free sale:

• Narcochek monotests and multipanel for 3 and 5 types of drugs (manufacturer: I&D Diagnostics, Canada);
• strips, ImmunoChrom or ICA systems for 3, 5, 6 types of psychotropics (FACTOR-MED, Russia);
• single tests, systems for 5-10 drugs Express Test (Switzerland);
• Narcostop multipanels, identifying 5 or 10 types of substances (Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co. Ltd., China).

On average, monotests cost up to 100 rubles, the starting price of multipanels is 220 rubles. You can purchase this kind of product at any pharmacy or order it online.

Increased hCG levels in men and non-pregnant women

A number of diseases also cause an increase in the level of human chorionic gonadotropin:

• chorionic carcinoma, recurrence of chorionic carcinoma;
• hydatidiform mole, relapse of hydatidiform mole;
• seminoma;
• testicular teratoma;
• neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract (including colorectal cancer);
• neoplasms of the lungs, kidneys, uterus, etc.

As mentioned above, taking medications containing hCG also affects the test result. The result of a study conducted within 4-5 days after an abortion will also be inaccurate.

Requirements for the procedure

To get the most reliable answer, it is recommended to test morning urine.

The container for collecting it must be thoroughly washed, doused with boiling water, or, even better, sterilized with steam. It is very important to carefully monitor the purity of the experiment. The subject should not be able to dilute or replace the biomaterial or the panel itself with the result.

Advice. If urine for testing is collected and the system is not available, it can be stored in the refrigerator for a while (2-6 hours). Before examination, the biomaterial is taken out in advance and left to warm to room temperature. Then the reliability of the test will not be affected.

Rules and recommendations

In order to obtain an informative diagnosis, you need to know how long organic liquid can be stored before transfer to the clinic:

• to obtain true results, it is recommended to collect organic material immediately before submitting it to a laboratory, for example, to Invitro;
• it is important to understand how long urine collected from infants and adults can be stored;
• For some types of tests, biological fluid can be kept in the refrigerator, in a tightly closed container, for no longer than 24 hours.

Differences between rapid tests and laboratory tests

Despite a number of advantages, home testing has several significant disadvantages. First, pharmacy panels and strips cannot detect small concentrations of drugs. Secondly, they do not reflect their quantitative content. And finally, thirdly, manufacturers of rapid tests do not keep up with the release of new psychotropics.

It is impossible to determine the fact of using various spices, smoking mixtures, mixes, and “designer” drugs at home.

Therefore, laboratory tests still remain the most reliable and accurate diagnostic method.

Drug addiction is the scourge of modern society. The disease claims thousands of lives every year. The saddest thing is that most drug addicts rarely celebrate their 30th birthday; they die young. Those who are lucky enough to survive often remain disabled and lose their ability to work. Early detection of drug problems using a rapid test can not only preserve health, but also save lives.

What tests are there?

Determination of hCG in urine is less sensitive, especially during ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the test may become positive a little later. If determining pregnancy in very early stages is very important for you, then you need to contact a medical institution, where they will do a more sensitive and accurate test by analyzing the content of hCG in the blood. For home use, test strips or test cassettes that determine the hormone content in urine are also quite suitable. In any case, they can give a very definite answer to the main question: yes or no?

Many companies produce home pregnancy tests; At the time of publication, the most expensive test that could be found in a pharmacy was offered by a German one - for the jet test (you don’t need to put it in a container to collect urine, you just need to wet it) Evitest Supreme will have to pay 310 rubles. 40 kop . “Know now optima” test cassette from the Canadian one - good news will cost you only 30 rubles. 50 kop .

How to quickly remove the products of cannabinol metabolism?

There is an opinion that with copious fluid intake, the drug is eliminated from the body quickly. This is a myth, since drinking water can dilute urine, but has no effect on the excretion of cannabinol .

Expert opinion

Kovaleva Elena Anatolyevna

Doctor-Laboratory Assistant. 14 years of experience in clinical diagnostic services.

Ask a question to an expert

To quickly eliminate drugs, you need activities that speed up the metabolic process - playing sports and taking a shower. In addition, proper nutrition is required to restore the acid-base balance.

There are also medical methods for quickly removing drugs -
detoxification therapy . This technique is performed exclusively in a hospital.

Do shelf life depend on the type of analysis?

Most people associate taking a urine test with collecting material in the morning and sending it for diagnostics. In reality, there are many other types of laboratory testing of urine, and for each of them there are certain rules for its preparation, as well as optimal storage periods.

General analysis

This type of research is carried out to determine the visual properties, chemical composition, and study of sediment. You need to donate an average portion of urine collected in the morning. The most accurate results can be obtained based only on fresh material. In exceptional situations, urine can be stored for no more than two hours at a temperature of 2-4°C.

Analysis according to Zimnitsky

The method is aimed at identifying the degree of functionality of the renal apparatus. It involves collecting urine in portions over 24 hours. To do this, you will need to prepare eight sterile containers of sufficient capacity so that each of them fits the full volume of the isolated liquid. All jars must be numbered and, after filling, stored in the refrigerator. The maximum holding period is 24 hours.

Test according to Nechiporenko

Allows you to determine the presence of diseases such as cystitis and pyelonephritis. Urine intended for research can be stored for an hour. This minimum period is due to the rapid proliferation of bacteria, which can affect the final result of the analysis. The material should be delivered to the laboratory immediately after collection.

Daily analysis using the Kakovsky-Addis method

This option is prescribed relatively rarely, however, it allows us to identify the development of dangerous pathologies of the genitourinary area. The material is collected in a three-liter jar within 24 hours, and during this time it must be stored in a cool place. Sometimes it is recommended to add a drop of formalin to it in order to preserve the urinary fluid. Only a small part is sent to the laboratory - approximately 50-100 ml.

Three-glass sample

The analysis helps determine the development of inflammation, while simultaneously clarifying the data obtained during OAM and the Nechiporenko test. Urine must be obtained in one urination and distributed into three clean containers. The material can be stored indoors for no longer than two hours. In a cool place this period can be extended to 24 hours. The optimal microclimate is plus 5°C.

Advice! When sending urine for storage, it should be remembered that keeping the material for more than 24 hours, especially in room conditions, distorts the result of the analysis and requires it to be repeated. Frozen urine cannot be examined either.