Marijuana legalization in most states allowed many people to smoke weed without any problems with their local laws. However, employers and law enforcement organizations can still do regular checkups for the use of illegal substances. That is why you may want to know how to pass a drug test of any kind. We dedicated this article to the full guidelines about different ways of passing laboratory drug tests taken through the samples of saliva, hair, blood, and urine.
You will learn how different drug tests work, how to prepare for them, and the most effective detox solutions in each case. Our mission is to help you find the best way to pass a drug test without getting caught at work or during legal investigations.
Explaining 4 Most Common Drug Tests
Almost all laboratory facilities have standard procedures for taking human samples to find traces of recent drug use. In most cases, there are 4 common drug test types in the United States. A laboratory can test the samples of saliva, blood, hair, or urine.
Urine Tests – The Most Common in the United States
Urine drug tests are the most frequent types of lab screenings for the use of illegal substances like marijuana (THC), alcohol, cocaine, etc. Such popularity is easy to explain. They are affordable, easy to collect the samples, and have a huge detection window of up to 30 days. And they can be done under supervision.
Also, urine tests are great for detecting recent substance use, just like blood tests. But for detecting cannabis (weed) they are good even for the long term. Heavy users of marijuana are very scared of such tests because they are hard to pass. However, synthetic urine kits and other commercial detox products can help with this problem.
Hair Follicle Tests – Can Detect the Long-Term Drug Use
Hair follicle tests work in a totally different way. They can reveal traces of the drug use for a long time after use. It happens because when the hair strands grow, they absorb the leftovers from the drugs like marijuana. However, these tests are less frequent because their cost is significantly higher. The interpretation of the sample’s testing is also more complicated for the laboratory facilities. The thing is that hair can easily be contaminated by secondhand smoke or other pollutants.
Saliva Tests – Non-Invasive and Cheap
Oral saliva-based tests that are also known as mouth swabs grow their popularity and demand. They are quick to analyze, cheap, and non-invasive. A laboratory specialist just needs to get a mouth swab from the inside of the cheek. Simple as that. These tests can almost immediately show the traces of detected drugs. The only drawback is that these tests can detect only a small number of illegal substances. Also, certain foods or medications can badly affect the results.
Blood Tests – To Get the Fullest Picture
Blood tests (BTs) are loved by laboratory specialists but not popular among other people. They are expensive and invasive. But when you need to do a quick analysis and get a full picture of all the possible drug traces in your body, you go through a blood test check. This test is quite difficult to go through and only a professional medical staff can carry out the test. That is why the blood tests are restricted or not available in most cases.
Still, no matter all these challenges and difficulties, blood tests are the only way to detect the exact concentration of alcohol or drugs in a body on the spot. For example, when you want to find out how intoxicated a driver is during a DUI incident.
Prepare Before Passing Any Drug Test
You have to take into account legal and employment regulations, as well as prepare your mind and body for a drug test.
Legal and Employment Obligations for Passing Drug Tests
Get ready that large corporate organizations have an obligatory pre-employment drug testing policy. They just want to keep their working environment safe and clean from drug users. Think if you want to work in a company with such a drug testing policy.
Probationers and people under police custody need to go through the procedures of regular drug tests without any delays to prevent fines or legal charges.
The logistics companies and transportation offices are obliged to go through regular drug tests to protect their employees and clients. Understand and comply with these demands.
People who use controlled medical preparation also need to go through drug tests for health monitoring. Doctors just want to make sure the drugs act as they should.
Consequences of Failing a Drug Test
- You may lose a job vacancy if you fail the pre-employment drug test;
- You may lose a current job position if you fail the regular checkup for drugs at the workplace;
- You may need to pay a fine, lose the right for child visitations in a case of divorce, or get locked up after a few fines – there are legal consequences;
- You may lose your reputation among certain groups of people;
If you are afraid of these legal or employment consequences, then you have to prepare. First and foremost, try to find out what type of drug test you will have to go through shortly. This knowledge will keep you calm and focused because you will understand what to expect from the procedure, methods of passing, detection windows for different substances, and other test-specific details. Also, do not forget to read about how long does weed stay in your system if you smoke daily or occasionally. Such information will help you choose the best detox method for your case.
In addition, we offer you a few useful and general guidelines about how to prepare for passing any drug test:
- Research about the test and learn how long certain substances could stay detectable in your body;
- Improve your daily schedule – sleep and eat more healthily;
- Consult your doctor if you take certain medications regularly. Find out if their use impacts the test results;
- Learn more about the local laws, your workplace’s drug policy, and possible legal/employment consequences;
How to Pass a Drug Test According to the Test Type
Passing a Urine Test
Urine drug tests are very popular because urine samples are budget-friendly, non-invasive, and easy to collect, transport, and analyze. Also, the sample collection can be done under supervision. A huge benefit for laboratories and legal institutions.
The urine tests are good for detecting recent drug use. Many scientific reports prove their accuracy and easy application. Such tests can also identify the residue from many illegal drugs and alcohol, including:
- Cannabis/THC;
- Cocaine;
- Opiates (mostly, heroin, morphine, and codeine)
- Phencyclidine (PCP);
- Amphetamines (methamphetamine);
Another reason for the broad use of urine drug tests is their accuracy in detecting the THC metabolites (leftovers) in the user’s urine even after 30 days since the last use. We’ve prepared a table that shows the detection windows for different drugs through urine tests. A detection window is the term when the traces of drug or alcohol use can be detected during a laboratory analysis.
| Drug/Substance | Detection Window |
| Marijuana | 3-30 days |
| Cocaine | 2-4 days |
| Opiates | 1-4 days |
| Phencyclidine (PCP) | 7-14 days |
| Amphetamines | 1-3 days |
How to Prepare for a Urine Drug Test?
How to pass a urine drug test naturally – think about ceasing or taking any drug substances. Since you abstain from using them, your natural metabolism processes will do the rest for cleaning your body from toxins. If you can’t abstain completely for now, there are a few other things that you can do.
The main advice here is to drink as many liquids as well. Hydration can help to dilute the drug residues in your urine. But drinking too much water can be quite suspicious. Also, keep in mind that some over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements like ibuprofen, pseudoephedrine, and some antidepressants can cause false positive test results.
Detox Products and Methods to Pass a Urine Drug Test
Home Remedies
There are a lot of commercial products to pass a urine test. However, many people still use homemade solutions like cranberry juice, herbal tea, and drinking a lot of water. Are these remedies helpful? First and foremost, they probably won’t affect the results of a urine drug test. Secondly, taking too much cranberry juice can be suspicious. So, it is better to use more professional detox solutions.
Detox Pills
To cleanse your body from toxins and drug residues, you can try Toxin Rid Pills from TestClear. The pills can help to speed up your metabolism for a few days before the test. They help to flush out the presence of drug metabolites.
Detox Drinks
Detox drinks like Detoxify Mega Clean drink can do the same as pills. However, they do not completely get rid of drug leftovers in your body. More or less, they help to cover their presence and fill your body with vitamins, electrolytes, and minerals.
Synthetic Urine
You can try a few great synthetic urine products. TestClear Urine Simulation with Powdered Urine Kit and Quick Fix Synthetic Urine Kit are the most popular options. Both of these products have a powerful chemical formula that fully resembles real human pee. Using this detox method can be dangerous because of the chance of being caught. But if you are ready to be responsible for it, then fake urine kits can be very helpful.
Synthetic urine kits help to pass a drug test:
- Creatine levels of urine are nothing but waste products left after metabolism. Synthetic urine usually has creatine levels that fully imitate the real urine’s chemical composition;
- Specific gravity is the number of particles in a liquid. Synthetic pee has a specific gravity range just like real human urine does;
- Uric acid is another waste product in human urine. Synthetic urine will look more real with the presence of uric acid;
Are you confused with all these available detox options? The comparison table of detox products and synthetic urine kits will help you choose the best method to pass a urine drug test.
| Product | Detoxify Mega Clean (Drink) | Toxin Rid Pills | Quick Fix Synthetic Urine (or similar products) |
| Method | Liquid beverage | Multi-day pill program | Powdered urine mixed with water (or pre-mixed liquid) |
| Detox process | Can dilute urine and potentially mask the toxins | Supports the removal of toxins | You need to replace the urine sample |
| Preparation time | A few hours before the test | Several days | Requires mixing or/and keeping the body’s temperature |
| Reliability | Depends on individual tolerance | Depends on individual tolerance | Requires following the temperature control all the time |
| Legal Status | Legal | Legal | Forbidden in some U.S. states |
Passing a Hair Follicle Test
A hair follicle drug test is a very reliable method to reveal long-term drug use. Hair strands keep traces of smoked or consumed drugs for a long time because of the increased blood circulation to the scalp.
A laboratory specialist takes about 1.5 inches of hair to check it for the use of drugs during the last 3 months. Hair grows at a pace of around 0.5 inches each month.
How long do drugs stay in hair? Check the detection window.
| Drug/Substance | Detection Window |
| Marijuana | 90 days |
| Cocaine | 90 days |
| Opiates | 90 days |
| Amphetamines | 90 days |
| PCP | 90 days |
How to Prepare for a Hair Follicle Test?
Remember that cutting/shaving your hair can be a smart decision if you are a regular weed user. But it can be a very suspicious thing to do as well. Usually, the hair grows slowly so you need to stay clean for at least 90 days before the test. It is a hard thing to do, especially for a regular user.
Detox Products and Methods to Pass a Hair Follicle Test
Detox Shampoos
Luckily, you can use one of the commercial detox shampoos to clean your hair strands from any drug leftovers. The most popular options are:
- TestClear Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo. Very recommended for heavy weed smokers. Such powerful ingredients as Cocamide MEA and aloe leaf help to clean the hair from weed’s residue;
- Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo. This 3-in-1 detox shampoo cleans deeply the hair shafts and scalp. Also, it doesn’t cost much;
Pros:
- Safe for your hair and scalp;
- Easy to use;
- Help to flush out the drug metabolites from hair;
Cons:
- The efficacy varies from person to person;
- Expensive;
Such detox shampoos can be very helpful if you use them wisely. For example, you can combine a few products during the Macujo method.
The Macujo Method
Many heavy weed smokers have used this method for years. It is a bit radical but helpful. However, if you want to know how to pass a hair follicle drug test with the Macujo method, you need to prepare a few components and follow a strict instruction to the letter.
This is how to clean your hair from toxins with the Macujo method:
- Use slightly warm water to wet the hair completely;
- Apply a lot of vinegar to the wet hair until it reaches the scalp. Use gloves to protect your hands. Do not let it go to your eyes;
- While the vinegar is still in your hair, apply the product called Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing. Then massage your scalp and hair very thoroughly;
- Wrap the hair with vinegar and this product using cling film. The products need time to soak in. Wait for 45 minutes;
- Rinse off all these products with warm water until your hair is clean completely;
- Apply the amount of TestClear Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo enough to cover all the strands. Spread the product with your fingers;
- Leave the shampoo on your hair for 5 minutes. Wash the hair with Tide Liquid Detergent. You have to scrub well until it is completely clean. Rinse with warm water after all these steps. You have clean hair and scalp clean from most drug residues;
Be very careful when using this method. Use protective gloves and goggles. Choose only the top-notch shampoos and other products. Cleaning your hair too often in such a radical way is not recommended.
Passing a Saliva Drug Test
Oral drug tests are quick to provide the results and are non-invasive. They can help to identify many compounds like drugs, antibodies, and hormones. A laboratory specialist usually collects a saliva sample from inside the mouth or the person just spits into a vial.
To pass a saliva test successfully, you need to know the mouth swab drug test weed timeline.
| Drug/Substance | Detection Window |
| Marijuana | 24-72 hours |
| Cocaine | 24-48 hours |
| Opiates | 24-36 hours |
| Amphetamines | 24-48 hours |
| PCP | 24-48 hours |
Think about staying completely clean from illegal substances for 72 hours before a mouth swab test. The drawback of this test is a very narrow detection window and you can take advantage of it.
How to Prepare for a Saliva Test?
Abstinence is the best way to detox before the oral drug test, just like any other test. How do you pass a mouth swab drug test if you can’t abstain? Choose a commercial detox product or a home remedy.
Detox Products and Methods to Pass a Mouth Swab Test
Homemade Remedies
There is no better way than abstinence. However, drinking a lot of water can dilute the saliva and mask the fact of the recent drug use. A healthy diet like staying away from fatty meals can help as well. Brushing the teeth, gums, and tongue won’t be harmless, especially right before the test. However, all these things won’t flush out the drug metabolites completely.
Detox Mouthwashes
There are a few available options. For example, you can use another TestClear product – Toxin Rid Rescue Wash Mouthwash. It helps to flush out the substances left after smoking weed to prevent the positive results of saliva drug tests.
Also, such mouthwashes are easy to use. Just swish for 2-3 minutes and then spit it out. You may need to use a full bottle of mouthwash and then wait for a few hours without drinking or eating something until passing the test.
How to pass saliva drug test with negative results? Use a professional detox mouthwash – they are quite effective.
Passing a Blood Drug Test
If you compare blood tests to urine screening, the blood tests are more accurate for detecting the presence of substances like weed or alcohol. These tests do not help to find the metabolites but can identify the real-time intoxication or a very recent drug use. The detection window for the drugs in the bloodstream is usually very short.
| Drug/Substance | Detection Window in Blood |
| Alcohol | 6-12 hrs |
| Amphetamines | 12 hrs |
| Cocaine | 1-2 days |
| Marijuana | 1-2 days |
| Opiates | 1-3 days |
| PCP | 1-3 days |
Your metabolism, individual tolerance, frequency of use, and body mass index can affect the detection window for cannabis in the blood.
Are Blood Drug Tests Effective Compared to Other Tests?
Blood tests are different from other laboratory drug screenings. Check the following comparison table that highlights the differences in detection windows for various substances through blood tests and other test types.
| Drug/Substance | Blood Test Window | Urine Test Window | Hair Test Window |
| Alcohol | 6-12 hours | 12-24 hours | Up to 90 days (EtG test) |
| Amphetamines | 12 hours | 1-3 days | Up to 90 days |
| Cocaine | 1-2 days | 2-4 days | Up to 90 days |
| Marijuana | 1-2 days | 3-30 days | Up to 90 days |
| Opiates | 1-3 days | 1-4 days | Up to 90 days |
| PCP | 1-3 days | 7-14 days | Up to 90 days |
How to Prepare for a Blood Test?
- Quit the drug use because the blood tests can detect the presence of illegal substances even faster than during urine testing. Abstinence is the best strategy to pass a blood drug test;
- Drink a few glasses of water each day before the test. Your body has to be hydrated. However, this method won’t guarantee that the blood tests won’t detect the presence of drugs;
- Eat meals with lean meat, fruits, and veggies;
- Routine yoga and fitness exercises can speed up the metabolism. You can detox quicker and safer in such a way;
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco use as well. This substance can negatively affect the liver function to detox naturally;
- Avoid taking medications that may affect the test results. Consult your doctor before passing a blood test;
Detox Products and Methods to Pass a Blood Test
Some commercial detox products can successfully clean your body from THC metabolites. For instance, you may use Toxin Rid Detox pills because they help to clean the digestive tract faster and purify the blood and urine from the traces of serious intoxication.
There are also a few home remedies claiming their success in cleansing the blood from the drug’s traces. Some Reddit users recommend using a “lemon juice” solution as a natural way to pass a blood test. You need to mix lemon and water in such proportions – squeeze half a lemon with 8-12 oz of clean water. And then drink this liquid 5-7 times each day before the test. The effectiveness of this method is not backed up by scientific facts.
Debunking the Myths About Home Remedies for Passing Drug Tests
After all these scientific proofs and commercial products, you are probably wondering about the chances to pass a drug test with home remedies. Reddit and similar resources give hundreds of tips for beating the test results with homemade solutions to your favor. But just like with the “lemon juice detox,” what methods you can trust and what do you have to ignore? Let’s debunk a few common myths.
Secondhand Smoke
- Myth – if you breathe in secondhand smoke nearby, this may cause a positive drug test;
- Fact – lab tests won’t detect enough traces of the recent drug use for a positive result. But only if you were near a person who had smoked weed a few times. The more frequently you were near such a person, the higher your chances of getting a positive drug test result;
Poppy Seeds
- Myth – if you eat poppy seeds from bagels and muffins, your drug test results may turn out positive;
- Fact – poppy seeds do contain a very small dose of opioids. But standard drug tests have the limits to exclude the positive results from eating poppy seeds. If you eat an average amount of poppy seeds, you will be fine;
Bleach
- Myth – if you take a diluted solution of bleach and water, this will help to pass a saliva drug test;
- Fact – you should never do this! Drinking or rinsing anything with diluted or concentrated bleach can be lethal or extremely poisonous. Also, it won’t help to mask the presence of drugs in urine;
Aspirin
- Myth – if you use Aspirin right before passing a drug test, you may get a positive result;
- Fact – Aspirin traces won’t show up in any drug tests. However, recent research claims that Aspirin can negatively affect certain blood tests. Inform a laboratory specialist that you took a certain dose of Aspirin before you passed a test;
At this point, consulting a doctor before passing a drug test is the wisest choice you can make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fake Pee Work at Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp?
These are the most popular laboratory facilities in the United States, with strict standards for checking the samples to detect traces of drug residue. It is better to skip using low-quality synthetic urine because they will probably find out about your fraud. But if you use high-quality fake pee products, there is a high chance you can pass a urine drug test successfully.
How Long Does It Take to Pass a Drug Test?
It depends on the test type. Sometimes the procedure takes only a few minutes – for example, during a mouth swab test. In some cases, it is up to 1 hour – for example, if you need to drink and then pee in a sample vial under supervision.
How Accurate Are Home Drug Tests?
Well, not all home drug tests are accurate enough to replace professional laboratory testing. However, if you smoked weed, then bought a home test, and received a positive result, it means that the traces of drug residue in your blood, saliva, or urine are high enough to detect even by the simplest test kits. Take emergency measures to prepare for a professional lab test.
How to Pass a Drug Test with Weed in Your System?
If you are taking a urine test, you can easily use synthetic urine in states where you can legally purchase it for use. However, you can also utilize the detox methods available to get rid of weed from your system prior to your drug test.
Are 12-Panel Drug Tests Effective?
Such tests have very strict standards. Their goal is to reveal the use of 10 separate but very popular illegal substances, including alcohol and marijuana (THC). And yes, these tests are very effective at detecting the recent use of drugs.
How Long Do You Need to Be Clean to Pass a Urine Drug Test?
It depends on how much and how often you use different substances. Check our comparison table with detection windows for each type of drug for urine tests. If you are a chronic user, you have to stay clean for 30 days to show negative results. Occasional users have to be clean for 10 days (at least).
Conclusion
Do you like to smoke weed more than once a week? Then you have to be prepared for the regular drug screening at work. Keep in mind all the tips and guidelines shared in the article. Find out what tests a laboratory will use to test you for drug use. This knowledge will help to prepare and search for the best way to pass a test without panicking. As always, the most reliable method is to abstain from smoking, vaping, or eating illegal substances for a few weeks before the test. But if you don’t have much time, then, at least, make sure to use the products and methods with proven safety and effectiveness.