| Recommended Cut-Offs, Metabolites, and Cross-Reactors in Urine Drug Tests | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug (SAMHSA-5) | # of Metabolites1 | Metabolite name(s)1 | Detection cutoff levels (ng/ml)2 | "Infrequent" use detection window (days)1 | "Frequent" use detection window (days)1 | Cross reactants3 | |
| Marijuana | 31 | 11-Nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; (THC) 9 carboxylic acid; 11-Hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; 11-Nor-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol; (THC) 9 carboxylic acid | 50-(initial)
15-(confirm) |
1 – 5 | 1 – 35 | NSAIDs, Marinol, Protonix | |
| Cocaine | 4 | Benzoylecgonine | 150-(initial)
100-(confirm) |
1 – 2 | 1 – 4 | --- | |
| Opiates | 3 | --- | --- | --- | --- | Poppy seeds, chlorpromazine, rifampin, dextromethorphan, quinine | |
| Heroin | 6-Acetylmorphine or 6-Monoacetylmorphine | 10-(initial)
10-(confirm) |
1 | 1 – 2 | |||
| Morphine | Morphine-3-beta-d-glucuronide; Morphine-6-glucuronide |
2000-(initial)
2000-(confirm) |
1 – 2 | 1 – 4 | |||
| Codeine | Codeine-6-glucuronide; Morphine-3-glucuronide; Morphine-6-glucuronide | 2000-(initial)
2000-(confirm) |
1 – 2 | 1 – 2 | |||
| Amphetamines | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | Ephedrine, methylphenidate, trazodone, bupropion, desipramine, amantadine, ranitidine, phenylpropanolamine, Vicks Vapor Spray | |
| Amphetamines† | Unchanged amphetamine | 500-(initial)
250-(confirm) |
1 - 2 | 2 - 4 | |||
| Methamphetamine† | Unchanged methamphetamine | 500-(initial)
250-(confirm) |
1 - 2 | 2 - 4 | |||
| MDMA | Methylenedioxymethamphetamine | 500-(initial)
250-(confirm) |
1 - 2 | 1 - 2 | |||
| Phencyclidine (PCP) | 1 | Hydroxylated PCP | 25-(initial)
25-(confirm) |
2 – 8 | 7 – 14 | Chlorpromazine, thioridazine, meperidine, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, doxylamine | |
† No metabolites are identified for amphetamines because these substances normally pass through the body essentially unchanged in chemical structure.
Definitions:
Metabolite - a compound produced when the body processes a particular drug. These are what drug tests identify.
Cutoff level - the lowest concentration (least amount per unit volume) of a particular drug or its resulting metabolite(s) that cause a person to be identified as using a particular substance.
Initial cutoff level - level identifying “negative” results that don't need further analysis.
Confirm cutoff level - a more stringent level used to confirm "positive" results.
Detection window - time frame during which a drug can be detected as measured from the point of ingestion.
Cross reactants - other substances that may have chemical properties similar enough to produce a false positive.
Infrequent use - 'recreational' drug use.
Frequent use - 'chronic' drug use.
Cross reactants - other substances that may have chemical properties similar enough to produce a false positive.
