Workplace drug testing is a chore that employees find themselves enduring more than they would like. We can thank the Drug-Free Workplace Act for this ongoing desire to prove that employees in designated industries aren’t under the influence. Employers may insist that these tests are essential for the protection of workers and the company’s reputation. Employees may insist it’s a breach of their rights to privacy and their right to take recreational drugs outside of work.
There are three main types of drug testing in the workplace. Hair testing has become popular in recent years because it’s so hard to fake and has a long detection window. Saliva testing is an effective option in this situation. However, urine testing remains common due to its affordability and easy process. So, can workers beat this urine test and beat the system?
Can You Beat A Workplace Urine Drug Test?
The controversy surrounding urine drug testing in the workplace has led to many people seeking ways to beat the test. It’s understandable. The use of recreational drugs away from company property is down to the employee. As long as it doesn’t affect their work, there shouldn’t be a problem. However, the nature of drug testing, especially hair testing, tracks drug use from a wide window of time. This isn’t just for determining guilt after a workplace accident or a random sobriety test. These screenings can highlight past behaviors that aren’t relevant. So, workers will stand up for their right to privacy and explore different avenues to avoid detection.
It is easier to beat urine testing than it is to beat a hair or saliva test. That’s one reason some companies prefer to pay out for hair testing instead. Hair samples come straight from the body in full view of the tester. You can strip it in advance, but it’s hard to remove all traces. With urine testing, you have some privacy as you produce the sample. Testers can’t violate your privacy any further by entering the bathroom cubicle with you and watching you. Therefore, there is time to tamper with the sample in some form.
Ways That People Beat Urine Drug Tests
There are three ways that workers can tamper with their sample to try and manipulate the results. Some are more effective than others, and none are completely foolproof.
1) Dilution
The first step workers may take to alter the makeup of their urine samples is duplication. This one makes a lot of sense because you’re still giving an authentic sample of your own urine on demand. Therefore, there shouldn’t be too much concern that the sample has been tampered with. The idea here is that dilution will lower the content of urine and provide fewer markers for testing. Some do this by drinking a lot of water, while others will use detox drinks. These drinks are questionable, especially when bought from unreliable sources. The worst could cause medical issues and leave the urine sample a different color.
2) Adulteration
The next option, for those that don’t want the risk of ingesting detox solutions to alter their sample is adulteration. This basically means altering the test sample once it has been produced. The idea here is that the addition of chemicals into the urine sample will alter its makeup and make it harder to detect whatever’s still present. Some use natural food items like lemon juice to strip the molecule, while others turn to harsh chemicals.
Again, this is a risky approach because it’s so hard to pull off. Workers would have to have the chemicals on them and keep them undetected when providing the sample. They would then need enough privacy and time to activate the chemicals and get the reaction they want. Furthermore, some chemicals that mask specific markers can amplify others. Those that don’t do their research can see this option backfire.
3) Substitution
The final option is complete substitution. This means swapping out the sample for something else so there’s no risk of any drugs detected. Some workers will do this with legitimate human urine. That is possible as long as they can find someone with no drug use history willing to help them out. As long as neither party does anything to raise suspicion, this can pay off.
The other option for those going it alone is to invest in some synthetic urine. You can click here to learn more about how that works and what goes into it. Companies are providing ongoing supplies and solutions for workers facing regular testing who need consistent samples of fake urine. Some of these would be highly convincing when presented to employers. However, testers are becoming more sophisticated and wise when it comes to these solutions. They are working out how to spot specific chemicals and traits to indicate false samples.
Companies Will Try And Catch Drug Test Cheaters Out
While there are many different approaches that workers can try to manipulate urine testing samples, they can’t assume it will work. Drug testing companies know all the tricks in the book and have their methods to determine fake or adulterated samples from authentic ones.
Remember that even if there aren’t many obvious markers for illegal drugs, the act of tampering with a sample makes workers look especially guilty. If someone who is a user of legal marijuana at the weekend gives an adulterated sample in protest, it might raise further alarm bells. What else are they taking that they need to hide? Why should their employer continue to trust them after catching them out here?
Is Urine Test Tampering Worth It?
Anyone considering cheating a workplace urine test to beat the system needs to weigh up the pros and cons. On one side, you have the chance to stand up for your rights not to be tested and potentially hide legitimate drug use at the same time. On the other, you could get caught out and ruin your reputation in the company. Don’t take this decision lightly. If you’re determined to beat the test, do so in the most responsible way possible.
