What are the cutoff concentrations for drug tests?

  1. Law
  2. CFR 49
  3. Transportation
  4. Office of the Secretary of Transportation
  5. Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs
  6. Drug Testing Laboratories
  7. What are the cutoff concentrations for drug tests?

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§ 40.87 What are the cutoff concentrations for drug tests?

(a) As a laboratory, you must use the cutoff concentrations displayed in the following table for initial and confirmatory drug tests. All cutoff concentrations are expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). The table follows:

Expand Table
Initial test analyte Initial test cutoff1 Confirmatory test analyte Confirmatory test cutoff concentration
Marijuana metabolites (THCA)2 50 ng/mL3 THCA 15 ng/mL.
Cocaine metabolite (Benzoylecgonine) 150 ng/mL3 Benzoylecgonine 100 ng/mL.
Codeine/
Morphine		 2000 ng/mL Codeine
Morphine		 2000 ng/mL.
2000 ng/mL.
Hydrocodone/
Hydromorphone		 300 ng/mL Hydrocodone
Hydromorphone		 100 ng/mL.
100 ng/mL.
Oxycodone/
Oxymorphone		 100 ng/mL Oxycodone
Oxymorphone		 100 ng/mL.
100 ng/mL.
6-Acetylmorphine 10 ng/mL 6-Acetylmorphine 10 ng/mL.
Phencyclidine 25 ng/mL Phencyclidine 25 ng/mL.
Amphetamine/
Methamphetamine		 500 ng/mL Amphetamine
Methamphetamine		 250 ng/mL.
250 ng/mL.
MDMA4/MDA5 500 ng/mL MDMA
MDA		 250 ng/mL.
250 ng/mL.

1 For grouped analytes (i.e., two or more analytes that are in the same drug class and have the same initial test cutoff):

Immunoassay: The test must be calibrated with one analyte from the group identified as the target analyte. The cross-reactivity of the immunoassay to the other analyte(s) within the group must be 80 percent or greater; if not, separate immunoassays must be used for the analytes within the group.

Alternate technology: Either one analyte or all analytes from the group must be used for calibration, depending on the technology. At least one analyte within the group must have a concentration equal to or greater than the initial test cutoff or, alternatively, the sum of the analytes present (i.e., equal to or greater than the laboratory's validated limit of quantification) must be equal to or greater than the initial test cutoff.

2 An immunoassay must be calibrated with the target analyte, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCA).

3Alternate technology (THCA and Benzoylecgonine): When using an alternate technology initial test for the specific target analytes of THCA and Benzoylecgonine, the laboratory must use the same cutoff for the initial and confirmatory tests (i.e., 15 ng/mL for THCA and 100ng/mL for Benzoylecgonine).

4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

5 Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA).

(b) On an initial drug test, you must report a result below the cutoff concentration as negative. If the result is at or above the cutoff concentration, you must conduct a confirmation test.

(c) On a confirmation drug test, you must report a result below the cutoff concentration as negative and a result at or above the cutoff concentration as confirmed positive.

(d) You must report quantitative values for morphine or codeine at 15,000 ng/mL or above.

[65 FR 79526, Dec. 19, 2000, as amended at 75 FR 49862, Aug. 16, 2010; 77 FR 26473, May 4, 2012; 82 FR 52244, Nov. 13, 2017]


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