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How Long Do Drug Test Results Take?

For a lab urine test, Quest Diagnostics says negative results are often released within 24 hours after the specimen arrives at its lab. Screens that aren't negative go through confirmation testing and are typically released within an additional 24 to 72 hours. Add the time to ship the specimen before that, and medical review after it. A result that isn't negative takes the longest, because a doctor has to talk with the person tested first. These are typical times, not promises.

Updated October 24, 2026 · Checked against the official sources listed at the end

The steps between ordering and a result

Order. For a Pact order, the donor pass is usually emailed within one business day (Monday to Friday).
Collection. The person tested brings the donor pass and a photo ID to a Quest patient service center.
Shipping. The specimen is sent to Quest's lab.
Screening. Quest says testing starts as soon as the specimen arrives at the lab.
Confirmation, only if the screen is not negative.
Medical review officer (MRO) review.
Report to the person tested, and to the employer or program named at checkout.

How long the lab takes

Quest's employer drug testing page says negative results are often released within 24 hours and non-negative screens are typically released within an additional 24 to 72 hours. That clock starts when the specimen reaches the lab, not when you leave the collection site.

The reason for the gap is a two-step process. Quest's FAQ explains that the first screen quickly separates negative specimens. A specimen that isn't negative gets a second, more specific confirmation test on a different portion of the urine.

What the medical review officer does

An MRO is a licensed physician who reviews lab results before they are final. On Pact's non-DOT 10-panel, a lab result that isn't negative goes to the MRO, who contacts the person tested to ask about prescriptions before the result is final.

Federal DOT rules show how detailed this step can be. They don't govern non-DOT tests, but they are a good picture of MRO review:

For a negative, the MRO reviews the custody form and the lab result before releasing it (49 CFR 40.127).
For a confirmed positive, adulterated, substituted or invalid result, the MRO must hold a verification interview with direct contact, in person or by phone (40.129(a)(4)).
The MRO's staff make at least three tries over 24 hours to reach the person at the phone numbers on the form (40.131(c)).
If those fail, the MRO asks the employer's contact to tell the person to call the MRO, without saying why (40.131(c)(2)).
The MRO can finish without an interview if the person declines to talk, if more than 72 hours pass after the employer reached them, or if no one can reach them within ten days (40.133(a)).

What makes a result take longer

Shipping time from the collection site to the lab.
Confirmation testing after a screen that isn't negative.
A missed call from the MRO. Answer calls from unknown numbers while you wait, and keep your prescription details handy.
Errors in the order. Pact asks for the test taker's full legal name exactly as on their photo ID, and their date of birth.

Who can tell you your result

Quest's donor instructions say its staff can't give information about specimen status or the final result once the test is complete. The result goes to whoever ordered the test.

For a Pact order, the result is reported to the person tested and to the employer or program named at checkout. If you are waiting on a Pact test, call Pact at 901-666-6970.

Common questions

How long does a negative drug test take to come back?

Quest says negative results are often released within 24 hours after the specimen arrives at its lab. Shipping to the lab and the final report add time, so it isn't a guarantee.

Why is my drug test taking longer than expected?

Common reasons include shipping time, confirmation testing after a screen that isn't negative, and the medical review officer trying to reach you. A longer wait alone doesn't tell you the result.

Can the Quest collection site tell me my result?

No. Quest says it can't give specimen status or results after the test. Ask whoever ordered the test. For a Pact order, contact Pact.

Why would a doctor call me about my drug test?

If the lab result isn't negative, a medical review officer contacts you to ask about prescriptions or other medical explanations before the result is final. Calling back quickly helps avoid delays.

How fast does an employer hear about a DOT positive?

Under DOT rules, verified positives must reach the employer's designated contact the same day the MRO verifies them or the next business day (49 CFR 40.167(b)). Pact's online 10-panel is a non-DOT test.