| Opiates are one of the most addictive drugs with | | | | codeine are 2000ng/mL and 10ng/mL for |
| sedative and analgesic effects, which depress the | | | | 6-acetylmorphine. |
| central nervous system. According to the TEDS | | | | Hair drug testing: |
| report, opiates are the primary substance of | | | | Many opiates can be detected using hair tests. |
| abuse and accounted for almost one-fifth (19 | | | | Hair tests require a sample of hair about 90 to |
| percent) of all substance abuse treatment | | | | 120 strands. The standard hair screen uses the |
| admissions in 2007. Some common opiates are | | | | most recent 1.5 inches of growth for testing. Hair |
| morphine, codeine and heroin, of which heroin is | | | | tests detect substance abuse over a long period. |
| the major illegal drug. According to NSDUH, there | | | | Morphine, codeine and heroin can be detected for |
| were about 114,000 persons aged 12 or older | | | | up to 90 days using hair tests. The initial cutoff |
| who used heroin for the first time within the past | | | | level for opiate metabolites is 200 pg/mg and |
| 12 months in 2008. | | | | confirmatory cutoff value is also 200 pg/mg. |
| Opiates is one of the five metabolite groups called | | | | Saliva drug testing: |
| SAMHSA-5 that can be tested for workplace drug | | | | Saliva tests are easy to administer and |
| testing under SAMHSA guidelines. The opiate drug | | | | adulteration of the specimen can be avoided. |
| tests detect the presence of codeine, morphine, | | | | Morphine and heroin can be detected in saliva for |
| and 6-acetyl-morphine. The presence of | | | | 1 to 2 days and codeine for 2 to 3 days. The |
| 6-acetyl-morphine shows recent heroin abuse. | | | | initial cutoff concentration level for opiate |
| Urine drug testing: | | | | metabolites is 40ng/mL. The confirmatory test |
| Urine test is a common method of detecting | | | | cutoff level for Morphine and codeine are 40ng |
| opiate and its metabolites in urine specimen. | | | | mL each and 4 ng/mL for 6-acetylmorphine. |
| Morphine can be detected in urine for 2 days, | | | | Opiate abuse continues be a serious threat to |
| codaine for 2 to 3 days and heroin for 3 to 4 | | | | public health. The above information will surely help |
| days. The cutoff concentration for initial test of | | | | you to understand different methods of opiate |
| opiate metabolites is 2000ng/mL. The | | | | drug testing and choose the better one to detect |
| confirmatory cut off level for morphine and | | | | this harmful drug without much hassle. |