Best Practices For Storing Urine For a Drug Test

Daniel Miller avatar
Daniel Miller, Ph.D, Drug Testing Specialist

Last updated on Jan 13, 2024

As a former drug testing laboratory expert, I know that storing human urine can be tricky. Urine spoils easily.

If drug test collector will see spoiled urine, he will require you to submit the sample under direct observation.

However, if you need to store urine for a drug test, there are ways to minimize the risk of spoiling and keep it fresh.

How long is urine good for a drug test

Room temperature: Urine is good for up to 4 hours at room temperature without significant degradation.

Refrigeration: You can keep a urine sample in the fridge for up to 24 hours. This is the best way to preserve urine overnignt, but it still has limitations.

Freezing: You can freeze urine for up to 6 months. Freezing for a longer can affect the composition of the urine.

An important disclaimer about using someone else’s urine for a drug test

We do not recommend using someone else’s urine for a drug test. There are several reasons for this:

You never know what drugs the person actually used. They may think they are clean, even if they smoked cannabis a couple of weeks ago. Cannabis metabolites can stay in your body for a long time.

Human urine spoils fast, even when kept in a fridge. If the collector sees that the urine is spoiled, that’s considered cheating, and you will be required to submit a new sample under direct observation.

Refusing to submit a new sample will be recorded and sent to a medical review officer and your employer. In most cases, this is considered a failed drug test.

If it’s a pre-employment drug test, the offer will be withdrawn. If it’s a workplace drug test, you will be fired.

In conclusion, do not take the cheap shortcut of trying to get someone else’s urine to submit. It’s not worth the risk of getting caught and facing the consequences. Use high quality synthetic urine instead.

Before storing the urine, first, you need to collect it correctly to minimize the risk of the urine being spoiled with bacteria.

How to collect urine for storage for a drug test and not spoil it

First things first, it’s important to know that urine can spoil quickly because of bacteria in urine and air. That’s why the room for collecting must be as clean as possible.

When you’re collecting urine, wear disposable vinyl gloves to keep bacteria from your hands out of it.

Go directly into a bottle and seal it up quick to keep anything from outside getting in. It’s smart to use the same bottle you’ll take to the drug test.

If you pour the urine from one container to another, you’re just going to add bacteria and make it more likely to go bad.

Container

Now, let’s talk about what kind of container to use to store urine for a drug test.

You’ll need at least 30ml of urine for a drug test, but the Department of Transport(DOT) requires 45ml. So, the best option is to use a 50ml plastic bottle.

Visine bottles are too small – just 15ml – and big plastic bottles are not good because there’s a lot of air and there are more chances that the urine will spoil.

It’s a great idea to use medicine bottles or special urine bottles that have a temperature strip. This makes it really easy to check if the temperature is just right for the drug test

bottles for urine for drug test

Another reason for using small bottles is the drug testing procedure. Before the drug test, you will be required to empty your pockets and remove unnecessary clothes.

The collector will look through your items, and if they find something that is intended to cheat the drug test, you will be required to go through the directly observed drug test.

So what you’ll want is a bottle that’s big enough to hold the right amount of urine, but also small enough so you can easily keep it hidden on you.

How to keep urine good for a drug test

When you’re planning to store urine for a drug test, it’s crucial to consider how long you’ll need to keep it.

If it’s for the near future, like within a day, you can safely store unrefrigerated it at room temperature, but only for up to 4 hours.

After that, the urine begins to spoil, and this change can be picked up during the drug test. I’ll share some tips later on how to recognize spoiled urine, so you’ll know if it’s no longer suitable.

Now, if you need to store the urine overnight, the fridge is your best bet. You can keep it there for about 24 hours.

How to keep urine good in fridge

Just remember, fridges can be a hotspot for bacteria, especially from foods.

Ever noticed mold on food that’s been left in the fridge too long? That same bacteria can mess with your urine sample.

To avoid this, first make sure your fridge is clean. Then, place the urine bottle in a ziplock bag or a clean plastic packet for extra safety.

Store it on a lower shelf towards the back of the fridge where it’s cooler.

Planning to store urine for a much longer period, like up to 6 months? The freezer is your go-to. Just don’t forget to seal it in a ziplock bag first.

How to heat up urine from fridge

You can defrost the urine by putting the bottle into warm water.

However, make sure the water isn’t too hot, ideally not more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, because overheating can spoil the urine.

It will take about 30 minutes to defrost 50ml of urine in a 100°F water bath.

Another way to warm up refrigerated urine is to use a microwave.

To do this correctly, use 10-second intervals and check the temperature after each one.

This way, you can be sure you’re not overheating the urine and ruining your sample.

If you’re defrosting frozen urine, it will take about 60-70 seconds for a 50ml sample to thaw.

urine in microwave

How to warm urine for a drug test

The wrong urine temperature is the main reason why people fail drug tests when using synthetic or someone else’s urine.

The specimen temperature must be within the acceptable range (97-100 degrees Fahrenheit).

If it’s outside that range, the collector might suspect tampering, and you’ll be required to undergo a directly observed drug test.

The sample must be submitted within 2 minutes, and it can cool down, so 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit is okay.

Here’s a brief overview of the methods. We have a detailed guide on how to keep urine warm for a drug test here: Expert-approved ways to keep urine warm for a drug test

There are two options to warm urine before a drug test: hand warmers and body heat.

Hand warmers

Hand warmers are popular for this purpose. However, regular hand warmers found in stores can produce too much heat, between 100 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit (37 and 82 degrees Celsius). This can make the urine too hot.

Overheating the urine is not recommended as it can alter its properties, potentially leading to a failed validity test.

I recommend using special heat pads that come with the best synthetic urine kits.

synthetic urine hand warmer

These pads produce the right amount of heat for a drug test and have a sticky side for easy attachment to the urine bottle.

To keep urine warm with hand warmers:

  1. Activate the heat pad and attach it to the sample.
  2. Tuck it securely into your underwear both to keep it warm and to hide it.
  3. Right before you go in, check the temperature.

Keeping urine warm with body heat

This method uses body heat to warm the urine. Normal body temperature is around 98 degrees Fahrenheit, which is sufficient for a drug test. The downside is that it takes time, at least 30 minutes.

There are three places where you can conveniently warm fake urine with body temperature:

  1. The crotch area.
  2. The bra (if you are a woman with large breasts).
  3. On your stomach.

Make sure the container is securely fixed so it doesn’t fall out, and ensure it’s not noticeable under your clothes. If it’s visible, you might be asked to submit the sample under direct observation.

Consider your options carefully

While it might seem like a good idea to use clean urine or someone else’s urine to pass a drug test, there are several risks involved.

First, there’s no guarantee that the urine is clean and hasn’t spoiled until you actually submit it for testing.

Next, you can’t be sure that the organic urine won’t spoil at the last moment.

Here are the signs of spoiled urine. If you notice any of these in your urine, don’t use it for a drug test!

Urine spoilage signs and indicators

  1. Strong Ammonia-Like Smell: This is one of the primary signs of urine spoilage. It occurs due to the breakdown of urea into ammonia, often resulting in a potent odor.
  2. Change in Color: Spoiled urine may exhibit a darker yellow or even a brownish hue. This change is particularly noticeable if the urine has been exposed for a long time.
  3. Cloudiness or Sediment: The presence of bacteria or crystalline substances can make the urine appear cloudy or have visible sediments.
  4. Altered Consistency: In some cases, spoiled urine can have a thicker consistency than normal.

The consequences of getting caught can be severe, including losing your job or facing legal action.

Is it worth the gamble?

If passing a drug test is crucial for you, like for a high-paying job or another life-changing opportunity, it’s important to weigh the risk of using an unreliable method.

For just $105, you can get high-quality synthetic urine. This ensures that you pass the drug test without the risks and consequences of getting caught, helping you secure that life-changing job or meet whatever requirement the drug test is for.

In summary, using clean urine or someone else’s urine to pass a drug test is risky.

Opting for high-quality synthetic urine is a safer and more reliable method to pass a drug test. It’s a worthwhile investment to protect your career and legal standing.

Best synthetic urines to pass a drug test without risk

Quick Luck

quick luck synthetic urine kit front and back

 

Quick Luck is a highly advanced formula, developed with over 16 years of dedicated lab research. It’s designed to pass visual, validity, and drug tests with ease.

This pre-mixed solution is immediately ready for use, making it an ideal choice for unexpected drug tests. Moreover, it contains enough quantity for two tests, ensuring you get excellent value.

The bottle is designed with a switch flow spout, allowing for effortless pouring without the need to unscrew the cap. It’s completely leakproof, so you don’t have to worry about spills in your pocket.

Additionally, its small and discreet size makes it easy to conceal between your legs, in the crotch area, or in a bra, which is especially useful for discreet entry into testing facilities.

The package includes heating powder for rapid urine heating within seconds.

You also get two heat pads, capable of keeping the temperature stable for up to 10 hours. These pads are specifically designed for synthetic urine, providing the ideal amount of heat for drug tests.

Plus, their sticky-sided design eliminates the need for rubber bands. A temperature strip is also attached to the bottle for convenient monitoring.

Other notable features include detailed instructions that make the product straightforward to use. It’s suitable for both men and women.

With a long shelf life of up to two years, it’s perfect for future tests.

However, it’s important to note that you’ll need a solution to discreetly hide the bottle.

Options include a stash leg belt or stash boxers. Alternatively, you can hide it in the crotch area or a bra.

Incognito Belt

incognito belt synthetic urine kit

The Incognito Belt is a discreet and undetectable urine bag that you can comfortably wear around your waist.

It’s designed to be so discreet that a collector won’t notice it, making it an excellent choice for sneaking into drug tests.

incognito belt on a waist male vs discreet

The belt is Velcro adjustable, fitting waists up to 48 inches, and is suitable for both males and females.

This product already contains enough urine for two uses, saving you the trouble and expense of purchasing synthetic urine separately.

The synthetic urine included is of the highest quality – it looks, smells, and froths just like real urine and is designed to pass both visual checks and urine validity tests.

The urine bag stays close to your body, helping to maintain the urine at a warm temperature suitable for drug tests.

As an added convenience, the belt includes two heating pads, which serve as a backup heat source. These high-quality heating pads won’t burn your skin and have an adhesive side for easy attachment to the bladder bag.

They provide the exact temperature needed for a drug test, without overheating the urine. Also, there’s a temperature strip attached to the bladder bag, allowing you to check the temperature anytime.

The Incognito Belt is built with a perfect construction that ensures it won’t leak. It features a rubber tube and a convenient clip for easy urine delivery and to mimic the sound of urination.

There’s also a second clip as a backup to prevent accidental spills.

Detailed instructions are included to guide you through the process step by step, making it easy to use. This product has been successfully helping people pass drug tests since 2003, so you can rely on its effectiveness.

Regarding considerations, the only factor to keep in mind is the price. At $130, it might seem a bit high, but consider the value you’re getting: synthetic urine for two uses, a discreet solution for sneaking it into drug tests, and heating pads.

If bought separately, these components could end up costing more.

Disclamer
The information on this website about detox products and synthetic urines is for educational purposes only. We do not endorse or condone their illegal use. Always consider the laws in your area and the potential legal consequences. Consult with a healthcare professional before using any products. Your responsibility and well-being are paramount.