Drug Test Cut Off Levels Chart

A cutoff level is the concentration of a drug or drug metabolite that a test uses to decide between a negative and a non-negative result. Rapid immunoassay tests do not measure an exact amount. Each test strip compares the specimen against a fixed threshold that the manufacturer set for that panel.

Cutoffs exist so that tiny, incidental amounts do not trigger a positive while true use is still detected. That is why the same drug can carry different cutoffs on different devices: a lower cutoff flags smaller concentrations, a higher cutoff reduces the chance of a positive from trace exposure or permitted medication.

These cutoffs apply to our urine drug test cups, dip cards and single-drug test strips. The first table covers the classic panels found on 5 to 12 panel cups. The second covers specialty and emerging-drug panels such as fentanyl, kratom, xylazine and nitazenes, which appear on expanded cups up to 28 panels and on single-drug dip cards.

Fentanyl is offered at three urine cutoffs: 20 ng/mL on most forensic-use cups and dip cards, 1 ng/mL on our CLIA-waived fentanyl cups and dip cards, and 10 ng/mL on selected expanded cups and strips. The dual THC values (25 + 50, or 50 + 200) appear on cups that carry two marijuana panels at different levels, and our 4-level marijuana test reads 15, 50, 100 and 200 ng/mL on one device.

Oral fluid tests use much lower cutoffs than urine tests because drugs appear in saliva at lower concentrations. A saliva THC cutoff of 40 ng/mL is not comparable to a urine THC cutoff of 50 ng/mL: the two matrices measure different compounds over different time frames, so cutoffs should only be compared within the same specimen type.

Alcohol (ALC) pads on our saliva tests are read against the supplied color chart at approximately 0.02% blood alcohol concentration.

Federal workplace drug testing follows the HHS Mandatory Guidelines, which set laboratory cutoffs for a fixed list of drugs. Fentanyl was added to the HHS urine and oral fluid panels effective July 7, 2025. Many buyers search for “SAMHSA” or “DISA” cutoff levels; the tables below show how our standard rapid test cutoffs line up with the current HHS panels.

Two points matter. First, HHS cutoffs apply to laboratory testing in federally regulated programs, and DOT-regulated tests must be performed by an HHS-certified laboratory, so rapid cups are used for non-regulated testing only. Second, DOT has proposed adding fentanyl and norfentanyl to its 49 CFR Part 40 panel, but that rule is not yet in effect. For a full walk-through of the federal panels, see our SAMHSA cutoff levels guide.

Source: HHS Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs, Authorized Testing Panels (90 FR 4662), effective July 7, 2025. HHS oral fluid cutoffs are based on undiluted (neat) oral fluid.

Start with your written testing policy. If it names specific cutoffs, buy devices that match them exactly; a cup with a lower cutoff than your policy will produce more non-negatives, and one with a higher cutoff may miss specimens your policy expects to catch.

If you send non-negatives to a laboratory, ask the lab which cutoffs it confirms at so the screen and the confirmation line up. Treatment programs and drug courts often choose lower cutoffs (OPI 300, FEN 1 or 20) to monitor recent use, while employers usually stay close to the federal levels. Also check the device’s intended use: CLIA-waived devices may be used in CLIA-waived settings, while Forensic Use Only devices are limited to forensic programs such as courts, corrections and probation. Our CLIA-waived vs. non-waived guide explains the difference.

Immunoassay panels react to more than one compound. The tables below list related compounds and the approximate concentration of each that produces a positive result on a urine panel at the stated cutoff, based on manufacturer package insert data. Values differ between devices and lots, so always check the package insert supplied with your tests. A compound listed here can cause a preliminary positive, which is one reason laboratory confirmation matters.

A cutoff level is the drug or metabolite concentration a test uses to separate a negative result from a non-negative (preliminary positive) result. A specimen below the cutoff reads negative for that panel, and a specimen at or above it reads non-negative.

On our urine cups the standard cutoffs are AMP 1,000, BAR 300, BUP 10, BZO 300, COC 300, MDMA 500, MET 1,000, MTD 300, OPI 300, OXY 100, PCP 25 and THC 50 ng/mL. Specialty panels include FEN 20, ETG 300, KRA 500, K2 50 and XYL 1,000 ng/mL.

Our oral fluid tests use AMP 50, BAR 50, BUP 5, BZO 50, COC 20, MET 50, MTD 30, OPI 40, OXY 20, PCP 10, THC 40 and FEN 20 ng/mL, plus K2 at 50 or 20 ng/mL depending on the device. Alcohol pads read at about 0.02% blood alcohol.

It means the marijuana panel turns non-negative when the specimen contains about 50 nanograms of THC metabolite per milliliter of urine or more. 50 ng/mL is the standard urine THC cutoff and matches the federal initial test level.

Both screen for morphine and codeine. OPI 300 detects lower concentrations and is common in treatment and court programs, while OPI 2000 matches the federal workplace cutoff and is less likely to flag poppy seeds or prescribed codeine.

Several standard panels match the HHS (SAMHSA) initial test cutoffs, such as THC 50, OXY 100, PCP 25, 6-MAM 10 and MDMA 500 ng/mL. Others differ, and many panels like EtG, kratom or K2 are not part of the federal program at all. Compare each panel in the chart above.

Most of our forensic-use fentanyl cups and dip cards use FEN 20 ng/mL. CLIA-waived fentanyl cups and dip cards use 1 ng/mL, and selected expanded cups use 10 ng/mL. Saliva fentanyl panels use 20 ng/mL.

No. DOT-regulated drug tests must be analyzed by an HHS-certified laboratory under 49 CFR Part 40. Rapid cups and saliva tests are used for non-regulated testing such as company policy, treatment, courts and probation.

No. A rapid test gives a preliminary result. Non-negative specimens should be confirmed by a laboratory method such as GC/MS or LC/MS/MS before any decision is made.

Drugs and their metabolites appear in oral fluid at much lower concentrations than in urine, so saliva tests need lower thresholds to detect use. Cutoffs should only be compared within the same specimen type.

Yes. Immunoassay panels can cross-react with related compounds and some medications. The cross-reactivity tables on this page and the package insert list compounds that may produce a preliminary positive, which laboratory confirmation can rule in or out.

Match the cutoffs written in your testing policy and the cutoffs your confirmation laboratory uses. If you are unsure, our team can help you compare devices before you order in bulk.