Cocaine
Drug Testing
SUMMARY #
U.S. DRUG TESTING SUMMARY | |
Cocaine | |
Tested for in Standard Drug Tests? | YES |
Tested for in Extended Drug Tests? | YES |
Possible to Test for? | YES |
Will Trigger Tests for Other Substances? | Possible : Amphetamine |
Detection Period in Urine | 48-72 hrs |
TEST TYPES #
Urine Testing
Cocaine is one of the 'SAMHSA-5" standardly tested for in drug tests. It can be detected for approximately 48-72 hours after single use. Frequent or heavy use can be detected for longer.
The initial screening cutoff level is 300 ng/ml for cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine. The GC/MS cutoff level is 150 ng/ml.
The initial screening cutoff level is 300 ng/ml for cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine. The GC/MS cutoff level is 150 ng/ml.
Hair Testing
Cocaine is detectable with hair tests and is included in the standard set of substances tested for with these tests. Hair tests generally take the most recent 1.5 inches of growth and use those for testing. That provides a detection period of approximately 90 days. If an individual's hair is shorter than 1.5 inches, this detection period will be shorter.
Saliva Testing
In the past few years, new technologies have been developed which allow for saliva testing for the presence of Cocaine. We do not currently have information about what the detection period is for these tests.
FALSE POSITIVES #
Substances or Conditions which can cause false positives
Amoxicillin was previously believed to cause false positives in some assay tests, but current evidence indicates it does not. (Reisfield GM, et a. "Failure of amoxicillin to produce false-positive urine screens for cocaine metabolite." J Anal Toxicol. 2008 May;32(4):315-8.)
Coca tea can cause positive immunoassay and confirming GC/MS testing for cocaine because it contains cocaine. Some tea drinkers are unaware that the tea, which is legal and ubiquitous in some South American countries, will cause a positive drug test. (Mazor SS, et al. "Coca tea consumption causes positive urine cocaine assay." Eur J Emerg Med. 2006 Dec;13(6):340-1.)
Cocaine-containing ophthalmological eye drops used in some eye surgeries and procedures can cause false positives for cocaine. (Jacobson DM, et al. "Duration of positive urine for cocaine metabolite after ophthalmic administration". Am J Ophthalmol. 2001 Jun;131(6):742-7. )
Coca tea can cause positive immunoassay and confirming GC/MS testing for cocaine because it contains cocaine. Some tea drinkers are unaware that the tea, which is legal and ubiquitous in some South American countries, will cause a positive drug test. (Mazor SS, et al. "Coca tea consumption causes positive urine cocaine assay." Eur J Emerg Med. 2006 Dec;13(6):340-1.)
Cocaine-containing ophthalmological eye drops used in some eye surgeries and procedures can cause false positives for cocaine. (Jacobson DM, et al. "Duration of positive urine for cocaine metabolite after ophthalmic administration". Am J Ophthalmol. 2001 Jun;131(6):742-7. )
CAUTION & DISCLAIMER #
Erowid's drug testing information is a summary of data gathered from site visitors, journal articles, websites, and other resources. Detection periods depend on amount and frequency of use, metabolic rate, body mass, age, overall health, drug tolerance, and urine pH of each individual. Many substances that are not tested for in basic or extended urinalysis tests CAN be tested for by a laboratory willing to go to the trouble, although that is uncommon.
RELATED RESOURCES #