Are Home Drug Test Kits Reliable?
Most parents rely on at home drug test kits purchased on the internet to test their children for illegal substances such as narcotics, and maybe try to save them before they get extremely hooked. Addiction is a serious problem in society and has broken many families, other than spoiling many bright features. Home drug tests are commercial kits that can be purchased from both online and physical vendors to test saliva, urine, or hair to determine drug concentration in the body. Urine is the most prevalent sample used for many tests. But in that case you can trust few brands only, so it is important to use only Recommended brand so you can have the perfect result.
There are many reasons why a parent may decide to get a commercial testing kit from the internet. For instance, buying through the internet isn’t only reliable in terms of delivery, but also enhances privacy.
The main concern and why many children will readily detest (including some parents) is the accuracy of these test kits. While high-quality kits from reputable manufacturers can be 99% accurate, many factors must be considered before determining the accuracy of a home drug test kit.
Here is everything that you need to know about home drug test kits:
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What factors can affect accuracy?
As noted earlier, there are many factors that can inhibit the accuracy of home test kits, and that is why home tests are never 100% accurate unless they are consistent with tests from professional labs. The other 1% accuracy may be accounted for wrongly performed tests, wrong sample storage, food eaten before the test, and over-the-counter (OTC) medication. If all these factors are prevalent before a test, the results may be inaccurate.
It is important to note that the window of accuracy varies from one drug to another and can also be influenced by metabolism and general lifestyle. For instance, the window period for marijuana is about a week, while that of cocaine and heroin can be anywhere between one and three days.
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What are the common types of home drug tests?
Besides marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, other common drugs that can be tested by home kits include methamphetamine, Tricyclic antidepressants, PCP, Barbiturates, Ecstasy, and Benzodiazepines.
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What should you consider when buying a kit?
It is important to note while you might be keen on all the above factors, a faulty kit can significantly contribute to inaccuracy. Before buying a kit, make sure you read the labels carefully to determine supported tests. You might also want to research the manufacturer to establish whether they are genuine and reliable.
As for the brand, the choice is purely aesthetic and will vary from one person to another. If you don’t know about “window of accuracy” about various drug tests, it is important to research on the internet before making incomplete inferences.
Final thoughts
Lastly, it is right to infer that home drug test kits are reasonably accurate if you do the tests correctly and wait for the window period to elapse before drawing conclusions. Remember, a faulty or expired kit can also show an incorrect negative.
Moreover, you must always read the instructions extensively before using a test kit to eliminate inaccuracy and misguided findings.
