Quick answer: A drug test kit is a screening device that detects drugs or their metabolites in urine or oral fluid. This collection offers urine cups, dip cards, and oral swabs in 5- to 20-panel configurations. Many are FDA-cleared and CLIA-waived, and some are forensic use only. Screening results typically appear in 5 to 10 minutes.
American Screening Corp (ASC) has supplied wholesale drug and alcohol testing products since 2004 from Shreveport, Louisiana. This page covers drug test kits, drug tests, and every format we stock, so you can match the right test kit to your program. The collection holds more than 360 products, including instant cups with adulterant checks, oral swabs, and laboratory oral fluid collection devices.
What a drug test kit detects
Every drug testing kit screens for specific drug classes at a set cutoff concentration. A result below the cutoff reads negative, and a result at or above it reads presumptive positive. The table lists typical screening cutoffs for urine. Configurations vary by manufacturer and product, so check the insert for the exact values.
| Drug class |
Abbreviation |
Typical screening cutoff (ng/mL) |
| Amphetamine |
AMP |
1000 (500 on some) |
| Methamphetamine |
MET |
500 (1000 on some) |
| Cocaine |
COC |
300 |
| Marijuana (THC) |
THC |
50 |
| Opiates |
OPI |
2000 (300 on some) |
| Phencyclidine |
PCP |
25 |
| Benzodiazepines |
BZO |
300 |
| Barbiturates |
BAR |
300 |
| Methadone |
MTD |
300 |
| Oxycodone |
OXY |
100 |
| Buprenorphine |
BUP |
10 |
| Fentanyl |
FEN |
1 to 20, varies by product |
Oral fluid cutoffs are different and are set by the device. Panels range from 5 drugs up to 20 or more. Some add adulterant strips, an alcohol test, or extended analytes such as gabapentin and kratom on forensic-use-only items.
Drug test kit formats compared
| Format |
Specimen |
Result time |
Observed collection |
Adulteration checks |
Best for |
| Urine cup |
Urine |
About 5 minutes |
Often per program policy |
Available on many cups (e.g., temperature, creatinine, oxidants, pH) |
Employers, probation, treatment programs, collection sites |
| Dip card |
Urine |
About 5 minutes |
Per program policy |
Usually limited, or separate strips |
Lower-cost, high-volume screening |
| Oral swab / mouth swab |
Oral fluid |
Typically 5 to 10 minutes |
Easy to observe |
Little opportunity to substitute the sample |
Roadside, post-incident, and on-the-spot testing |
| Oral fluid lab collection device |
Oral fluid |
Lab turnaround |
Easy to observe |
Handled by the lab |
Lab-confirmed programs |
Urine generally has the longer detection window. Oral fluid generally reflects more recent use. Choose by your policy, not just price.
Who buys drug tests and why
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Clinics and treatment centers: intake screening, ongoing monitoring, and medication adherence checks, such as buprenorphine and methadone panels.
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Courts and probation: scheduled and random screening, where cups with adulterant checks support chain of custody.
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Employers: pre-employment, random, reasonable-suspicion, and post-accident testing under written policy.
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Staffing firms: fast, repeatable screening for high placement volumes.
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Collection sites and labs: stock for walk-in clients, plus oral fluid collection devices for lab submission.
Compliance: FDA, CLIA, and confirmation
Many drug test kits are FDA 510(k)-cleared for in vitro diagnostic use. Cleared products designed for point-of-care use may be CLIA-waived, meaning they can be used in waived-testing settings. Other items are forensic use only: they are not cleared for clinical diagnosis and suit non-clinical screening programs. Each product page states its status.
A screening result is presumptive. Confirmation by GC-MS or LC-MS/MS at a laboratory is the accepted way to verify a non-negative result, and many policies require it before action is taken. DOT-regulated testing follows 49 CFR Part 40, which requires specific collection procedures and HHS-certified laboratories, so an instant kit does not replace it. This page is not legal advice. Consult counsel or your compliance officer.
How to read drug test results
- Check the expiration date and confirm the specimen was collected as the insert directs.
- Run the test and start your timer. Read at the time stated in the instructions, and not after.
- Find the control line (C). If it is missing, the test is invalid.
- Read each drug line. On most cups and cards, a line in the test region means negative, and no line means presumptive positive.
- Treat any faint line as a line. A faint line usually means the drug level is near or below the cutoff, so it reads negative on most formats.
- Review adulterant strips if present, and record the result. Retest or send to a lab if invalid or disputed.
Oral fluid and some other devices differ in how lines are read, so follow the product instructions.
Ordering bulk drug test kits from ASC
ASC sells bulk drug test kits and wholesale drug test kits in case quantities, so you can standardize one panel across sites. Orders ship the same day. We provide volume quotes for recurring orders, and private label options are available for qualifying programs. Contact our team with your panel, format, and annual volume, and we will help you match products to your policy.
Drug Test Kit FAQ
What is a drug test kit?
A drug test kit is a device that screens a urine or oral fluid sample for drugs or their metabolites. It uses immunoassay strips that react at a set cutoff. Results are presumptive and appear in minutes, and lab confirmation is used to verify non-negative results.
How long does a drug test take to show results?
Most instant urine cups and dip cards give results in about 5 minutes, and oral swabs typically take 5 to 10 minutes. Read the result within the window in the instructions. Lines read later can be inaccurate. Laboratory confirmation takes longer, depending on the lab.
Does a drug test detect all drugs?
No. A drug test detects only the classes on its panel, at the cutoffs it uses. A 5 panel covers fewer drugs than a 12 or 20 panel. Some substances, such as certain synthetic compounds, need specific panels. Review the analyte list before buying.
How much does a drug test kit cost?
Cost depends on format, panel size, adulterant checks, and case quantity. Larger panels and oral devices generally cost more per test, while volume lowers the unit price. See current pricing on each product page, or request a quote for bulk orders.
Where can I buy drug test kits near me?
Programs that test on-site usually buy online and keep stock on hand. ASC ships same day from Louisiana, so you can restock without visiting a store. Buying cases lets clinics, employers, and collection sites test whenever needed, with consistent products.
How accurate is a drug test kit?
Accuracy depends on the product, the cutoff, correct use, and the sample. FDA-cleared kits are evaluated against lab methods, but screens can produce false positives or negatives, for example from cross-reacting medications. That is why non-negative results should be confirmed by GC-MS or LC-MS/MS.