Frequently Asked Questions

Should I own a drug test kit if I’ve already talked to my kids about drugs?
How accurate are First Check®'s drug tests?
How does the First Check® drug test work?
How long can drugs be detected in urine?
How are other parents using home drug test kits?
What are "pharming parties"?
Where can I go to find out street or slang names for commonly abused drugs?
Is it possible for my child to "beat" the drug test even if they have used drugs?
What if my child refuses to give a urine sample?
What should I do if my child disputes the test results?
If my child does test positive for drug use, what should I do then?
How often should I test my child for drugs?
How have parents been responding to this program?
Where can I find out more information about the drug test?
Where can I purchase a First Check® Home Drug Test?
Where can I find additional resources?

Should I own a drug test kit if I’ve already talked to my kids about drugs?

Yes, having a drug test in the home clearly reinforces the communication and supports the families’ position that drug use is unacceptable. First Check drug tests were not available 10 years ago to assist parents in keeping kids off drugs.

How accurate are First Check®'s drug tests?

First Check® Drug Tests are up to 99.9% accurate. Accuracy depends on a number of factors not limited to how soon the test is administered after ingestion of the drug and the amount of drug in the system relative to the cutoff concentrations levels Samples near the cutoff provide the largest margin for error.

How does the First Check® drug test work?

The sample is easily collected in the test cup and the results are readable in 5 minutes or less.

How long can drugs be detected in urine?

Each drug is cleared by the body at different rates. When you can find drugs in the urine depends on the drug taken, how often the person takes the drug, and how the drug was taken. The table below, shows minimum and maximum times you can detect drugs in urine.

		Approximate Detection Time
Drug	Drug Street Name(s)	Min	Max
Marijuana (THC)	pot, grass, weed, doobie, joint, roach	2 hours	up to 40 days**
Cocaine (COC)	coke, snow, blow, candy, crack	1-4 hours	2-4 days
Methamphetamine (MET)	crystal meth, speed, glass	2-7 hours	2-4 days
Amphetamine (AMP)	speed, amp, black beauties	2-7 hours	2-4 days
Ecstacy (MDMA)	E, XTC, X, 007s	2-7 hours	2-4 days
Opiates (OPI)	heroin, morphine	2 hours	2-3 days
Phencyclindine (PCP)	angel dust, rocket fuel	4-6 hours	7-14 days
Benzodiazepines (BZO)	downers	2-7 hours	1-4 days
Barbiturates (BAR)	downers, barbs, red devils	2-4 hours	1-3 weeks
Methadone (MTD)	amdone, chocolate chip cookies, fizzies	3-8 hours	1-3 days
Tri-cyclic Antidepressants (TCA)		8-12 hours	2-7 days
Oxycodone (OXY)	Os, Ox, cotton, blue	1-3 hours	1-2 days

How are other parents using home drug test kits?

The answers vary from setting it on the counter in order to facilitate further discussion about drug prevention with their child, to beginning random and regular testing at a young age, so that it becomes part of the household routine before those critical high school years.

What are "pharming parties"?

Pharming parties are get-togethers where prescription drugs are exchanged. These parties, instead of being devoted to illegal substances, are meeting places to use prescription drugs to get a high. Often teenagers participate in pharming parties. This is one instance of the abuse of prescription drugs. Painkillers (OxyContin or Vicodin), antianxiety medicines (Valium or Xanax), or attenton-deficit disorder drugs (Ritalin or Adderall) are often fare. Pain medication are both dangerous and prized for the high they provide. Pills are often received from Internet Pharmacies that don't require prescriptions. Also addicts will use pills received legitimately but will trade them. Also, symptoms are exaggerated by patients to receive pills longer. (wikipedia.com)

Where can I go to find out street or slang names for commonly abused drugs?

The Office of National Drug Control Policy maintains a database of over 2300 street terms that refer to specific drug types or drug activity. It can be found by clicking here or going to www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms.

Is it possible for my child to "beat" the drug test even if they have used drugs?

It is possible to adulterate a test sample, by adding foreign substances such as water, vinegar or bleach to the sample. Proper test procedure details are provided with each test kit. Following these procedures and using the element of surprise should eliminate most deception possibilities.

What if my child refuses to give a urine sample?

Remain calm and patient. Be persistent without accusations, threats, or anger. If you child continues to refuse, seek professional help.

What should I do if my child disputes the test results?

If you receive a preliminary positive results, you should send the result into our lab for complimentary confirmation testing. You will have the results within 5 to 7 days.

If my child does test positive for drug use, what should I do then?

We recommend that you consult with a physician, counselor, or support group. Physicians and counselors can be located through our Provider Search link and several support groups and organizations are listed within our Resources section if needed.

How often should I test my child for drugs?

We recommend that you test your child frequently and randomly. Drugs only remain in the sytem for a limited time, (click here for details). By making this a common and unexpected practice your child is much less likely to try or use drugs if they know the will be caught.

How have parents been responding to this program?

An Arizona University study found that 84% of parents would “definitely recommend” this program to others and 77% of parents felt the program aided their communication with their children.

Where can I find out more information about the drug test?

Go to www.firstcheckfamily.com or call 1-888-788-5716. 

Where can I purchase a First Check® Home Drug Test?

First Check® is the only FDA cleared home test and is available at most major pharmacy retailers or online at www.firstcheckfamily.com.

Where can I find additional resources?

Our resources offers a variety of options for information and support.