All businesses, regardless of industry, want to employ the best possible candidates. Sadly, it is difficult to determine who among the candidates is really the best because some of them could be untruthful in their resumes or during their interviews. It’s one of the reasons employers make background checks and drug testing a part of their hiring process. These are two key steps that an employer can take to produce a safe and productive work environment.
A drug testing service is an effective way to keep your workplace free from illicit drugs and issues that may be associated with drug abuse. Still, it can be difficult to ensure accurate and dependable outcomes. Some people can still cheat by diluting their specimen sample, and this will result in a negative diluted drug test.
A negative dilute drug test refers to a negative drug test result on a urine sample with weight and creatinine values that are lower than expected. Its water content, which is higher than the average, minimizes the visibility of drug levels in the
urine. A negative dilution does affect a drug testing service because the specimen cannot be marked as positive. The average creatinine value of normal samples ranges from 20 to 350 mg per deciliter. A sample that contains less than 20 milligrams of creatine per deciliter is deemed dilute.
Common Triggers of Negative Dilute Test Results
● By nature, each one can produce different amounts of creatine concentration, but as far as drug testing is concerned, some people:
● Drink excessive amounts of water on purpose to flush the drug out of their system or spoil test results, or
● Add water to their specimen sample for the sole purpose of cheating the test
● Whenever an individual attempts to submit diluted drug test samples, it is almost always intended to accomplish one thing: to cheat the test.
What a Negative Dilute Drug Test Result Means
If a job candidate’s or employee’s drug test result is “positive dilute”, it means the person has drugs in his/her system. It also implies that while there was too much water in the sample, the presence of illegal drugs is still evident.
On the other hand, if the person’s drug test results in a negative dilute, it means there was too much water in the sample, so there’s no way to determine the presence or absence of prohibited drugs. The best way to get a more reliable result would be to ask the subject to submit another sample without drinking water or any other fluids before the test.
A diluted drug test result can really make it difficult for you to determine whether your job candidate or employee is abusing drugs or not. But if the medical review officer (MRO) tells you that someone’s drug test was a positive dilute, you may take it as a verified positive test according to §40.197 of DOT rule 49. On the other hand, if a person’s drug test results in a negative dilute, you will have no way of knowing whether that person is using drugs because:
● The individual might be drug-free, but he/she consumed lots of fluids before the test, or
● The person is using drugs and attempted to spoil the results through dilution.
How to Avoid Negative Dilute Drug Tests
Negative dilute drug test results only bring more questions than answers to whether a job candidate or employee is into prohibited drugs. That said, it would be prudent for employers like you to prevent them from happening. Here are some tips you should consider to deter individuals from diluting their urine samples before a drug test:
- Urine samples must have a temperature between 90 – 100 degrees F during the test. This is an assurance that the samples are fresh and extracted on the spot from the person tested and not from someone else.
- Drug test labs should make it a policy to instruct donors to empty their pockets before entering the restroom to produce samples. This could prevent donors from adding adulterants to their specimens.
- Instruct donors to avoid drinking excessive water or other fluids to prevent false negative results.
- Enforce first-morning urine submission to ensure that the sample is concentrated.
- Apply random drug testing. Consider working with an able provider of comprehensive drug testing services to prevent your employees from doing anything to dilute their samples.
As an employer, you must appreciate the value of drug testing as a part of your business. It is one of the most effective moves that make your workplace safe and productive. It is also one of the best things that can protect the integrity of your company. Make drug testing work for you with our help. We are a reputable provider of comprehensive drug testing services.