Drug testing detects the presence of drugs and drug metabolites using cutoff levels to determine whether a specimen tests positive or negative for the use of a specific drug. A cutoff level is a threshold. If the concentration of a drug is above the cutoff, it is a positive result. If it is below, it is negative.

Note that a negative result does not mean “no drugs.” It merely means that if any drugs are present, they are below the cutoff level.

Screening level vs. confirmation level

In workplace drug testing, the standard process involves potentially two steps: an initial screen, followed by a confirmation test, but only if the screening test was non-negative.

The initial test is a quick screen that separates negative specimens from further consideration. The confirmation test uses gas/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (e.g., GC-MS, LC-MS/MS) or a similar method, which can specifically identify and quantify the drug/metabolite in the specimen.

What does ng/mL and pg/mg mean?

Cutoff levels are expressed in nanograms (ng) per milliliter (mL) for urine drug testing and oral fluid drug testing or picograms (pg) per milligram (mg) for hair drug testing. These denote the concentration level of the drug metabolite.

Each specimen type and drug tested has a different detection window. As a broad generalization, a hair test will detect up to 90 days of use (but not the most recent week). Oral fluid can detect drugs from a few minutes ago up to 3 or 4 days for some drugs. And urine is good for a few hours up to 4 days for most drugs, but 30 days or more for heavy marijuana use.

Federal drug testing cutoff levels

Cutoff levels for federally regulated drug testing programs are established based on mandatory guidelines set by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The US Department of Transportation follows the Federal guidelines. Rule 49 CFR Part 40 for details on testing and procedures.

Non-Federal (aka Non-DOT) drug testing cutoff levels

Many non-regulated employers mirror the cutoff levels established by the government while others customize their drug testing panels to be more sensitive to certain drugs based upon their program needs and unique workforce. Mirroring is generally good practice as it keeps the program defensible.

Lab-based urine drug test common cutoff levels

Substance Screen cutoff Confirmation cutoff
Amphetamines 500 ng/mL 250 ng/mL
Cocaine metabolites  150 ng/mL 100 ng/mL
Marijuana metabolites 50 ng/mL 15 ng/mL
MDA-analogues 500 ng/mL 250 ng/mL
Opiates 2000 ng/mL 2000 ng/mL
6-Acetylmorphine (6-AM) 10 ng/mL 10 ng/mL
Opiates (semi-synthetic) 300 ng/mL 100 ng/mL
Oxycodones 100 ng/mL  100 ng/mL
Phencyclidine (PCP)  25 ng/mL 25 ng/mL

Urine specimen 5-panel drug test cutoff levels

Substance Screen cutoff Confirmation cutoff
Amphetamines 1000 ng/mL 500 ng/mL
Cocaine metabolites 300 ng/mL 150 ng/mL
Marijuana metabolites 50 ng/mL 15 ng/mL
Opiates 2000 ng/mL 2000 ng/mL
Phencyclidine (PCP) 25 ng/mL 25 ng/mL

Urine specimen 9-panel drug test cutoff levels

Substance Screen cutoff Confirmation cutoff
Amphetamines 1000 ng/mL 500 ng/mL
Cocaine metabolites 300 ng/mL 150 ng/mL
Marijuana metabolites 50 ng/mL 15 ng/mL
Opiates 2000 ng/mL 2000 ng/mL
Phencyclidine (PCP) 25 ng/mL 25 ng/mL
Barbiturates 300 ng/mL 300 ng/mL
Benzodiazepines 300 ng/mL 200 ng/mL
Methadone 300 ng/mL 200 ng/mL
Propoxyphene 300 ng/mL 200 ng/mL

Instant urine drug test common cutoff levels – Note that an instant test (aka “rapid” or “POCT”) is a screening test, and non-negative results need to be confirmed by laboratory testing.

Instant test cutoff levels can vary tremendously from one manufacturer to another.

Substance Screen cutoff
Amphetamines 1000 ng/mL
Methamphetamines 1000 ng/mL
Cocaine/metabolite 300 ng/mL
THC/metabolite 50 ng/mL
Opiates 2000 ng/mL
Phencyclidine (PCP) 25 ng/mL

Oral fluid drug test common cutoff levels

Substance Screen cutoff Confirmation cutoff
Amphetamine 150 ng/mL 120 ng/mL
Cocaine metabolites 15 ng/mL 6 ng/mL
Marijuana 3 ng/mL 1.5 ng/mL
Methamphetamines 120 ng/mL 120 ng/mL
Opiates 30 ng/mL 30 ng/mL
Oxycodones 30 ng/mL 30 ng/mL
Phencyclidine (PCP) 3 ng/mL 1.5 ng/mL

Hair drug test common cutoff levels

Drug Screen cutoff Confirmation cutoff
Methamphetamines 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg
MDMA 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg
Amphetamine 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg
Cocaine/metabolites 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg
Benzoylecgonine 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg
Marijuana metabolite 1.0 pg/mg 0.1 pg/mg
Opiates (MOR &/OR HYM) 200 pg/mg 200 pg/mg
Opiates (COD &/OR HYC) 200 pg/mg 200 pg/mg
6‐Acetylmorphine (6‐AM) 200 pg/mg 200 pg/mg
Oxycodone 200 pg/mg 200 pg/mg
Oxymorphone 200 pg/mg 200 pg/mg
Phencyclidine (PCP) 300 pg/mg 300 pg/mg