Are you looking for a job that may require a pre-employment drug test? Does your current employer conduct drug tests? Were you recently hurt at work and required to take a drug test for worker’s compensation benefits? Are you on probation and required to submit to drug screenings? Does your substance abuse rehabilitation program require that you pass drug screenings? Are you a collegiate or professional athlete subjected to doping regulations? If you’re a kratom user who answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re probably wondering: does kratom show up on a drug test?
Drug tests are commonly used for a variety of reasons, such as medical diagnostics, investigating crimes, monitoring for prescription drug abuse, and athletic testing. With drug tests being so common, especially as a condition of employment, should you be concerned about your kratom use?
Though kratom and its active ingredients, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, have been scrutinized in the past, it is currently legal to use—at least at the federal level. Some states have banned the use of kratom. But for those states where kratom is legal, is it likely that pre-employment drug screenings or other types of drug tests would test for kratom? In this blog, we’ll discuss how modern drug tests work, which ones can detect kratom, and the specifics of kratom metabolization. Read more to answer the question of the day: does kratom show up on a drug test?
Drug Testing 101
All drug tests require a sample from the participant. Samples can be urine, blood, saliva, sweat, hair, and even fingernails. The type of sample taken depends on what is being tested for, the purpose of the test, who is conducting the test, and the budget of the organization requesting the test.
Urine Testing
Urine drug tests are the most widely used drug tests conducted by employers and government agencies because of their affordability and capability to detect the most common drugs. There are two types of urine drug tests that are commonly used: the 5-panel and 10-panel.
The 5-panel drug test can detect opiates, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), phencyclidine (PCP), amphetamines, and cocaine. The 10-panel drug test can detect amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, opioids, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, phencyclidine (PCP), methaqualone (ludes), methadone (dollies), propoxyphene (Darvon), tramadol, and buprenorphine.
Notice that kratom is not listed among the substances these urine tests detect. Although kratom works on the same neuroreceptors as opioids, kratom will not show up as an opioid on a standard drug test.
Blood Testing
Blood tests are typically reserved for healthcare providers, as the procedure is more invasive and can only detect substances in a short window—usually within 1-3 days of the time of testing. Kratom has a short lifespan in the blood and will likely not produce a positive result on blood tests unless consumed within hours or a few days of the test.
Saliva Testing
Saliva testing is another common sample used for drug detection because it is noninvasive and easy to administer. Most saliva tests are not designed to detect the specific alkaloids in kratom. Like blood testing, saliva tests are best for recent use, with a detection window ranging between hours and a few days after consumption.
Hair Follicle and Fingernail Testing
Hair follicle and fingernail testing are reserved for detecting substance abuse over time and are not the first choice for pre-employment drug tests or other common drug detection efforts. These samples can detect drug use as far back as 3 months or up to one year after use. Though there is a possibility of detecting kratom, it is uncommon. Anyone testing for kratom via hair follicles or fingernails will likely disclose this information to the testing participant.
Specialized Drug Tests
As discussed above, most average drug tests are not designed to detect kratom usage. However, specialized testing is available that can detect kratom. These tests are far less common than the tests presented above. They are administered to detect kratom using a process called chromatographic separation. Liquid chromatography is the most common method for testing the active ingredients in kratom (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine).
This type of testing requires a liquid sample like blood, urine, or saliva. It involves adding the sample to a solid material (stationary phase) and a liquid solvent (mobile phase). The process separates the different components based on their reactions to the stationary and mobile phases. Chromatographic separation testing can then detect the specific alkaloids present in kratom.
Factors Influencing Kratom Detection
If you are subject to a specialized drug test designed to screen for kratom, the following factors will influence the likelihood of detection:
Frequency of Use
As you might have guessed, frequent kratom usage will increase the odds of detection. Kratom has a half-life of about 24 hours, so it will take a day to metabolize half of the amount consumed. However, the process is exponential. This means that trace amounts of kratom can still be detected even after a few half-lives have passed.
Dosage
Kratom detection can depend on the dosage as well. Higher doses are more likely to be detected because they remain in the body for longer periods.
Metabolism
Individual metabolism influences kratom detection because it determines how fast one can eliminate kratom from their system. A faster metabolism will break down kratom more quickly and have a lower chance of being detected on a drug screening.
Hydration Levels
Hydration in the body can help support kidney and liver function, which works to remove toxins and metabolize kratom. Higher levels of hydration will move kratom through the body faster.
Use Kratom Responsibly
Since kratom is legal in most states and is not a banned substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency, most employers, government agencies, and other organizations will not use drug tests that screen for kratom.
However, if you have concerns about kratom and drug testing, be sure to stay current on your local laws and do research on what type of drug test you’ll be taking. As always, use kratom responsibly.
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