Taking a drug test can be a nerve-wracking experience. When your job or legal situation depends on passing a drug test, waiting for the results can feel agonizing. Labcorp is one of the major companies that conducts drug testing for employers, legal cases, and other situations. If you took a drug test at Labcorp, here’s a guide on how to know if you passed or failed.
The Basics of Labcorp Drug Testing
Labcorp uses urine, hair, blood, and saliva samples for drug testing. Urine tests are the most common. They can detect drugs or metabolites for up to 3-4 days after last use for most drugs. Hair testing goes back much further, usually detecting drug use from the last 90 days.
Labcorp screens samples for the following classes of drugs:
- Marijuana (THC)
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines/methamphetamines
- Opiates
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- MDMA (ecstasy)
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Methadone
- Propoxyphene
- Oxycodone
- Tramadol
Labcorp uses cutoff levels to determine whether a sample passes or fails. Cutoff levels are the minimum concentrations of a drug or metabolite needed to trigger a positive result.
Checking Your Drug Test Results
Labcorp has a few methods to check your test results:
Online
If the employer or agency that required your test uses Labcorp’s online system, you may be able to access your results through the secure online portal. You’ll need the unique specimen ID from your test paperwork. The online system shows a pass or fail result.
By Phone
You can call Labcorp’s automated phone system at 800-833-3984. You’ll need the specimen ID from your paperwork. The system will state whether the test was completed and if the results were sent to the employer. However, they will not give pass or fail results over the phone.
Employer Notification
Most often, your employer or agency will receive the results first and will then notify you. For example, an employer may call you into a meeting and inform you that you passed or failed. Or they may send a letter in the mail with your test outcome.
Substance Abuse Program Contact
If you took the test as part of a substance abuse program or legal case, the staff in charge of your testing will likely notify you of the results.
Factors that Impact Drug Test Results
Several factors go into whether you will pass or fail a Labcorp drug test. These include:
Detection Windows
Detection windows are the periods when drugs can be detected by the test. Detection windows depend on the drug type, test type, your metabolism and frequency of use. For urine tests, most drugs can be detected for 1-4 days after last use.
Cutoffs
As mentioned above, cutoff levels determine whether the concentration of a drug meets the threshold for a positive test. Even trace or very low amounts can trigger a positive if they surpass the cutoff.
Sample Tampering
Trying to falsify, substitute or adulterate your sample can cause it to come back as positive or invalid. Labcorp specimens are checked for tampering.
Secondhand Exposure
It’s unlikely, but secondhand marijuana smoke or accidental ingestion of foods with poppy seeds, hemp, or coca leaves could potentially cause a positive.
Incorrect Use
If collection procedures aren’t followed properly, such as not disclosing all medications, it can lead to an incorrect result.
False Positives
No drug test is 100% error-proof. False positives, although rare, can occur from mix-ups, testing errors, product cross-reactivity or other issues.
Common Questions
How long does it take to get Labcorp drug test results?
Urine drug tests typically take 24-48 hours to be completed and reported. Other sample types take longer, usually 3-5 business days for oral fluid tests and 1 week for hair tests.
Can Labcorp tell if you used someone else’s urine?
Yes, Labcorp checks all urine samples for temperature and other indicators of substitution or tampering. Using synthetic or someone else’s urine will likely be detected.
What happens if a drug test is positive?
Consequences depend on the reason for testing. Employers may terminate employment. Legal cases could face penalties or probation revocation. Treatment programs have their own protocols.
Can you dispute a positive Labcorp result?
You can request a retest of the initial sample or a test of the split sample, if one was collected. These requests must be made quickly after notification of a positive. You will likely have to pay fee for retests.
What is the cutoff for THC?
The standard THC cutoff level for an initial test is 50 ng/mL. Confirmation tests use a 15 ng/mL cutoff.
Passing Your Next Drug Test
To maximize your chances of passing your next drug test at Labcorp or elsewhere:
- Abstain from drug use for as long as possible beforehand
- Avoid secondhand exposure
- Don’t try to tamper with or falsify samples
- Follow collection procedures carefully
- Consider supervised detox or abstinence programs
- Drink fluids and exercise moderately before testing
Conclusion
Waiting for drug test results from Labcorp or other labs can be stressful. However, knowing the typical processes, detection windows, cutoff levels and other factors that influence results can give you greater peace of mind. Be sure to avoid sample tampering or substitutions, which are easily detected. For best results, abstain from drug use for as long as possible before undergoing testing.