What is OXY on a drug test? OXY is the abbreviation for oxycodone. On a drug test cup or dip card, the OXY panel screens urine for oxycodone and its related compound oxymorphone, usually at a cutoff of 100 ng/mL, printed as OXY/100.
Oxycodone is one of the most widely prescribed opioid pain medications, sold as OxyContin, Percocet, Roxicodone and generic tablets. It needs its own panel because standard opiate tests are designed around morphine and often miss it. This guide explains what OXY detects, how it differs from OPI and MOP, what the cutoff means and how to read and confirm the result.
What is OXY on a drug test?
OXY stands for oxycodone. A non-negative OXY result means oxycodone or oxymorphone was detected at or above the cutoff.
| Label | Meaning | Common rapid cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| OXY | Oxycodone and oxymorphone | 100 ng/mL |
| OPI / MOP | Morphine and codeine | 300 or 2,000 ng/mL |
| HCD / HYD | Hydrocodone (separate panel on some tests) | Varies by product |
The full drug test abbreviations chart covers the rest of the codes on a cup.
What Drugs Does the OXY Panel Detect?
- Oxycodone: OxyContin, Roxicodone, Percocet (oxycodone with acetaminophen) and generics
- Oxymorphone: Opana and generics, which is also a metabolite of oxycodone
Hydrocodone and hydromorphone may cross-react with some OXY tests at high concentrations, but they are generally detected by the opiate panel or a dedicated hydrocodone test. The package insert lists the cross-reactivity of your specific device. For drug information, see MedlinePlus oxycodone.
OXY vs OPI: Why Oxycodone Needs Its Own Panel
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid. Its structure is close enough to morphine to be called an opioid, but different enough that many OPI and MOP immunoassays respond to it weakly, especially at the 2,000 ng/mL OPI cutoff. A person taking oxycodone can screen negative on OPI and positive on OXY.
Federal rules reflect this difference. The initial test table in 49 CFR §40.85 lists oxycodone and oxymorphone separately at 100 ng/mL, apart from codeine and morphine at 2,000 ng/mL. Our MOP drug test guide and OPI 300 vs OPI 2000 comparison explain the opiate side in more detail.
What Does OXY/100 Mean?
The number is the screening cutoff in nanograms per milliliter. At OXY/100, the test reads non-negative when oxycodone or oxymorphone reaches 100 ng/mL. Below that it reads negative. A cutoff does not indicate impairment, dose or misuse, and a person taking oxycodone as prescribed is expected to test non-negative. See the drug test cutoff levels guide for more.
How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in Urine?
Oxycodone is usually detectable in urine for one to a few days after a dose, and longer with regular use or extended-release tablets. Dose, frequency, metabolism and the cutoff all change the window. The ARUP Consult detection windows table lists published estimates, which should be read as ranges.
Is Oxycodone Part of a DOT Drug Test?
Yes. DOT’s opioid testing includes oxycodone and oxymorphone, along with codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and 6-AM. DOT tests must be performed by certified laboratories under 49 CFR Part 40, so rapid OXY cups are used for non-DOT employer, clinical, court and treatment programs. See our DOT drug test guide.
Which Tests Include an OXY Panel?
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Single-panel strips | Oxycodone Drug Test Strips (OXY/100) |
| 7-panel dip card | 7 Panel Dip Card with Oxycodone |
| 6-panel dip card | 6 Panel Dip Card with THC, Oxycodone & OPI/2000 |
| Multi-panel cups | 12 panel drug test cups with OXY/100 |
Basic 5-panel tests usually do not include OXY. For pain management, treatment and court programs, choose a cup that lists OXY next to OPI.
Who Uses OXY Panels?
Pain management practices use OXY to confirm that a prescribed oxycodone product is present when expected. Treatment centers, courts and probation departments use it to screen for unprescribed opioid use that an opiate panel alone could miss. Many non-DOT employers also add OXY to 10- and 12-panel cups for safety-sensitive roles.
How to Read an OXY Result
- Negative: a control line and a test line next to OXY, even if faint.
- Non-negative (preliminary positive): a control line and no test line next to OXY.
- Invalid: no control line. Retest with a new device.
See our guide to reading a drug test cup for each pattern.
Confirming an OXY Result
A rapid OXY result is preliminary. Review prescriptions and confirm non-negative screens with a laboratory method such as GC-MS or LC-MS/MS, which distinguishes oxycodone, oxymorphone and other opioids. Pain management programs also use laboratory results to check that a prescribed opioid is present when it is expected.
Buying OXY Drug Tests in Bulk
Most buyers get OXY on a 10-panel or larger cup alongside OPI, MTD, BUP and FEN. Request a bulk quote with your panel list, or browse all urine drug test cups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does OXY mean on a drug test?
OXY means oxycodone. The panel screens urine for oxycodone and oxymorphone.
What is the cutoff for OXY on a drug test?
Most rapid tests use 100 ng/mL, which matches the federal initial cutoff for oxycodone and oxymorphone.
Does an opiate (OPI) test detect oxycodone?
Not reliably. Many OPI and MOP tests respond weakly to oxycodone, so a separate OXY panel is used.
Will Percocet show up on a drug test?
Percocet contains oxycodone, so it is expected to show up on a test that includes an OXY panel when the level is above the cutoff.
Is oxycodone included in a DOT drug test?
Yes. DOT opioid testing includes oxycodone and oxymorphone, but DOT tests are performed by certified laboratories, not with rapid cups.
Does a non-negative OXY result need confirmation?
Yes. Rapid results are preliminary. Confirm with GC-MS or LC-MS/MS and review prescriptions before making a decision.
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