A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection affecting the urinary system, including the urethra, bladder, and kidneys. Individuals with a UTI often wonder if their condition could influence urine drug test results. While designed for accuracy, physiological conditions like a UTI can affect outcomes, potentially leading to unexpected results.
How UTIs Can Influence Urine Drug Tests
A UTI can directly alter the composition of a urine sample, which may then affect the initial screening process of a drug test. The presence of a UTI can lead to an increase in white blood cells (leukocytes) and bacteria in the urine. Many UTI bacteria can also convert nitrates, naturally present in urine, into nitrites. The presence of elevated leukocytes and nitrites are common indicators used in UTI diagnostic tests, and their presence in a sample intended for drug screening could interfere with the analysis.
Urinary drug tests often rely on immunoassay-based screenings, which detect substances above a certain threshold using antibodies. The biological markers associated with a UTI, such as white blood cells and nitrites, might interact with these immunoassay tests, potentially leading to an inaccurate initial screening result. Additionally, individuals with a UTI are often advised to increase their fluid intake to help flush out bacteria, which can lead to diluted urine. Diluted urine has a lower concentration of solutes, including drug metabolites, making it difficult for tests to detect substances accurately, and can result in a “negative dilute” finding, indicating an inconclusive sample.
Understanding Potential Interferences
The medications used to treat UTIs can also interfere with drug test results. Certain antibiotics, commonly prescribed for UTIs, can cause false positives for specific substances during drug screenings. For instance, some quinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and ofloxacin, can cause false positive results for opiates. Ofloxacin has also been linked to false positives for amphetamines or methamphetamines.
While amoxicillin has been anecdotally associated with false positives for cocaine metabolites, studies have largely concluded that it is unlikely to produce such results. However, the urinary analgesic phenazopyridine, often used to relieve UTI symptoms, is an azo dye that can cause urine to turn a reddish-orange color. This strong coloration can interfere with colorimetric urinalysis tests, potentially leading to false positive results for nitrites and impacting other chemical reactions on test strips.
Steps to Take Before and During Testing
If an individual has a UTI and is scheduled for a drug test, certain steps can help ensure accurate results. It is advisable to disclose the UTI and any medications being taken to the testing facility or employer before the test. This allows personnel to account for potential interferences and interpret results correctly. Medical documentation, such as a doctor’s note or prescription details, can substantiate the disclosure and is often necessary to explain unexpected findings.
Maintaining normal fluid intake is recommended. While staying hydrated is important for managing a UTI, excessive water consumption immediately before a test should be avoided, as it can lead to overly diluted urine and potentially an invalid or negative dilute result. If an initial screening yields an unexpected positive result, requesting a confirmation test is a prudent step. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) is considered the “gold standard” for drug detection due to its high specificity and accuracy, effectively eliminating false positives by identifying unique molecular structures.