You’ve been thinking about joining the workforce for a while now. You’ve even managed to get through the initial interview stage for a job at a local manufacturing plant. But there’s still one final hurdle you need to pass before you can start working there: the pre-employment drug test. It won’t be as easy as you think, either. It’s not just about taking a quick cheek swab and that’s it. There are different kinds of drug tests, each with its own set of rules and regulations when it comes to passing. One of these is the urine test, which is why this article was made. Keep reading to learn if you need to fast before taking a urine drug test, what exactly is involved in one, and how to beat it if you have an upcoming one coming up soon.
Do I need to fast for a urine drug test?
yes, you need to fast if you have a urine drug test. The reason is that the presence of food in your stomach will slow down the process of excretion of drugs from your body into your urine.
Why Do I Need To Fast For A Urine Drug Test?
1. The Process Of Excretion Is A Very Slow One.
Your body is made up of several chemical processes that have to be taken into account when you are trying to determine if you have used drugs. One of these processes involves the urination and excretion of the drugs out of your body. These two processes take place at different rates and this is why it is important that they are not slowed down in any way. If food is present in your stomach, it will slow down the process of excretion and therefore increase the chances that traces of drugs will be found in your urine sample;
2. Food Slows Down The Production Of Urine.
When you eat, your stomach produces fluids that help move food through your digestive tract and also help make sure that nutrients are absorbed by your body cells, which results in increased urine production as well as increased bodily waste products being expelled through your kidneys. If you are not eating, this process is slowed down and therefore increases the chances that traces of drugs will be found in your urine sample;
3. Your Body’s Metabolism Plays A Role.
Your body’s metabolism is the process by which your body converts food into energy. When you drink fluids, your body processes them through your digestive system and then releases them into your bloodstream for use in other processes within your body. If you are not drinking water or fluids, then this process will be slowed down and therefore increase the chances that traces of drugs will be found in your urine sample;
4. The Amount Of Water Intake Affects The Excretion Rate Of Drugs From Your Body.
When there is sufficient water intake, then the process of excretion from your body is sped up and therefore increases the chances that traces of drugs will be found in your urine sample; on the other hand when there is insufficient water intake (as may occur with those who are on a liquid diet. e. when you eat, you produce more urine and waste products.
5. Food Can Interfere With The Testing Process Itself.
The presence of food in your stomach can result in a false positive result when it comes to the testing process itself. This is because the chemicals that are used to test for drugs take longer than usual to get through your digestive tract and into your urine sample, which means that if you have been eating within an hour of taking the test, there is a good chance that your urine sample will contain traces of food from previous meals and therefore be a false positive;
6. Fasting Makes The Sample More Accurate.
When you fast for 24 hours before taking a drug test, it is much easier for the toxins in your body to be expelled from your body, so even if traces of drugs remain in your system after this time period has elapsed, they will be even easier to detect as they will have less time to interact with other substances in your sure you can see why this is not a good thing when it comes to drug tests. If you are fasting and your stomach has food in it, the process of excretion will be accelerated and therefore more of the drugs will be found in your urine sample than if you were not fasting.
How Does A Urine Drug Test Work?
- The first step in the drug testing process is to detect the presence of drugs in the urine. The test itself is called a “screening” test because it only indicates that a substance might be present, not whether it is. For example, if you are tested for cocaine and you test positive, your urine may have cocaine in it, but that does not mean that you have taken cocaine. Your employer can’t make this determination from the drugs found in your urine.
- To determine whether or not there’s any alcohol in your system, your employer may add a second chemical to the sample being tested for drugs. This chemical will react with alcohol and turn purple if there’s any alcohol present in your sample. If this happens, you will be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).
- The third step is to test for other illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and cocaine (if applicable). These tests are called “hair” tests because they look for specific substances in your hair.
- The fourth step is to test for use of prescription drugs such as painkillers, sleeping pills, and other pills that are used as a way to get high.
- The fifth step is to test for the presence of human growth hormone (HGH) or other performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids. HGH is produced naturally by the human body, but it can be taken by athletes to boost their performance in sports. If you test positive for HGH or steroids, you will be charged with possession of anabolic steroids and/or possession of a controlled substance (usually a steroid).
- The sixth step is to analyze the urine sample for traces of certain prescription and illegal drugs that are not detected in the screening process (such as cocaine), along with any alcohol found at the beginning of testing, and any traces of prescription medications used illegally (such as painkillers) or legally without a doctor’s prescription (such as tranquilizers).
- The seventh step is to test for the presence of prescription drugs that are not included in the screening process (such as painkillers, sleeping pills, and other pills that are used as a way to get high).
- The eighth step is to test for the presence of human growth hormone (HGH) or other performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids. HGH is produced naturally by the human body, but it can be taken by athletes to boost their performance in sports. If you test positive for HGH or steroids, you will be charged with possession of anabolic steroids and/or possession of a controlled substance (usually a steroid).
How To Pass A Urine Drug Test Without Fasting
- The first thing you want to do is make sure that you are ready for the test. You should not be under any kind of drug or alcohol influence.
- You should also make sure that your urine is in a usable condition before the test. You can do this by urinating on a clean piece of paper (you can use a clean tissue or toilet paper if you’re not comfortable with using your own paper). This will remove any residue from previous urination, which will help your urine pass the test. It’s always best to urinate on a clean piece of toilet paper, as it’s safe for you to use.
- If you are not allowed to drink during the day prior to the test, then it’s important that you drink plenty of water beforehand. This will prevent dehydration and ensure that your urine is in its best condition when the time comes for the test.
- If allowed to take a pre-test drink (a clear liquid), then it’s best to avoid alcoholic drinks. You can drink a clear liquid such as water, tea, or coffee.
- If you must have something to drink during the test, then it’s best to take a non-alcoholic drink. As opposed to alcohol, which is metabolized into urine and will therefore show up on the test sample, non-alcoholic drinks are not metabolized by the body and therefore do not show up on the test sample.
- It’s also recommended that you don’t eat anything for at least eight hours before the test. This ensures that your urine is in its best condition for when it is required for testing. If you must have something to eat or drink during the test, then it’s recommended that you only take a small amount of food or drink (such as a small cup of water). Large amounts can be dangerous if they are eaten without being diluted beforehand (by drinking some water).
Conclusion
A urine drug test is one of the most common types of pre-employment drug tests. It’s also one of the easiest to pass if you know what you’re doing. The only way you can fail a urine drug test without fasting is by using a product that’s been approved by laboratories. That’s why it’s essential to look for the seal of approval when buying detox products.
