Does Kratom Show Up On A Drug Test?

Written by: The Konnexion

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Kratom

A tropical tree native to Southeast Asia called Kratom has grown in popularity recently as a homeopathic treatment for anxiety and discomfort. Although it is legal to use in many countries throughout the world, people who use Kratom frequently worry about whether it will show up on drug tests. The purpose of this blog is to examine the connection between Kratom usage and drug testing, including the many types of tests and detection times.

We’ll also discuss the likelihood of false-positive drug test results, you should know exactly how Kratom and drug testing are related. In addition, you should know what effects using Kratom might have on your test results.

Related: Curious about different strains of kratom? Discover more in our in-depth article on Types Of Kratom (Red, Green, White, Yellow, Gold, and Blends).

Table of Contents:

Definition of Kratom

Kratom, also known as Mitragyna speciosa, is an indigenous Southeast Asian tree that belongs to the coffee family. It is mostly found in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. Usually, Kratom leaves are dried, ground into a powder, and then taken orally.

Kratom has historically been used as a stimulant and a painkiller, but in recent years, it has become more well-known as a natural treatment for anxiety and sadness. The safety and efficacy of Kratom, however, are still hotly contested topics, and the drug’s legal standing differs considerably from country to country.

How do drug tests work?

Drug tests identify substances or their metabolites that are present in a person’s system. While different kinds of drug tests operate in slightly different ways, they all generally start with the collection and analysis of a sample of body fluid or tissue. This is done to check for the presence of drugs.

Urine test: The most popular type of workplace drug test is a urine test, which can identify kratom alkaloids up to seven days after consumption. Kratom is not commonly included in panels for basic urine drug tests, which means that it will need a different, more expensive test to be detected.

Blood tests: Blood tests look for the presence of drugs or their metabolites by taking a sample of blood and analyzing it. Although blood tests are generally more expensive and invasive than urine testing, they are also more accurate.

Hair tests: In a hair test, a small sample of hair is collected, and the presence of drugs or drug metabolites is examined. Up to 90 days after drug use, hair tests can still show drug use.

Saliva: Tests on saliva entail taking a sample of the subject’s saliva and examining it for the presence of drugs or drug metabolites. Saliva tests can be performed on-site and are less invasive than blood tests. Up to 48 hours after drug use, saliva tests can still reveal drug use.

Sweat tests: Sweat tests involve taking a sample of sweat and examining it to see if any drugs or drug metabolites are present. Sweat tests are more frequently employed in forensic or legal contexts and are less common than other kinds of drug tests. For up to a week following consumption, they can still find drugs in a person’s system.

Depending on the type of drug test being taken and the exact test panels included, certain drugs may be identified. The test results are often classified as positive or negative depending on whether a drug or drug metabolite was found over a particular threshold. Confirmation tests are frequently used since several types of drug tests have a chance of returning false positive results.

Can Kratom show up on a drug test?

It’s crucial to remember that kratom is not normally included as a drug test for regular drug tests. A specialized test would need to be performed for the alkaloid Mitragynine to indicate kratom use. Kratom is legal in the majority of states; it is rare that a drug test would be done solely to look for the use of the substance.

Depending on the kind of test being administered, kratom may or may not be detected in a drug test. A low dose of kratom may not be detected in some tests since some drug tests have higher threshold for detection than others. Alkaloids found in kratom, including 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine, can be found in urine, blood, and saliva tests.

Although the alkaloids in kratom bind to the same brain receptors that opioids do, they do not cause someone to test positive on an opioid test. When it comes to treating pain, anxiety, and other issues, kratom offers a safer, more natural alternative to opioids and other pharmaceutical drugs.

How long does Kratom stay in your system?

The dose, frequency of use, and the person’s metabolism are some of the variables that might affect how long kratom lingers in your system. Kratom alkaloids can typically be found for varying lengths of time in saliva, blood, and urine:

• Urine: Up to 7 days after consumption, kratom alkaloids might be found in urine.

• Blood: For up to 2-4 days after consumption, kratom alkaloids can be found in blood.

• Saliva: For up to 1-2 days after consumption, kratom alkaloids can be found in saliva.

It’s crucial to remember that these are merely approximations and that, depending on the user and the unique usage circumstances, the detection window may be either longer or shorter. A low dose of kratom may not be detected in some tests since some drug tests have higher threshold for detection than others.

Factors that can affect Kratom detection in drug tests

Kratom detection in drug tests can be affected by a number of circumstances, including:

1. Dosage: The detection window might be impacted by how much kratom is consumed. The detection time may be longer if the dose of kratom is higher.

2. Frequency of usage: Frequent, strong kratom use might cause kratom alkaloids to build up in the body, thus extending the detection window.

3. Metabolism: The body metabolizes kratom at a different rate for each individual, which can alter the detection window.

4. Test type: The sensitivity of drug tests varies, which can impact their capacity to identify kratom alkaloids.

5. Product quality: The detection window can also be impacted by the product’s purity and quality.

6. Hydration: By flushing kratom alkaloids from the body more quickly, drinking enough water can shrink the detection window.

False Positive Results in Drug Testing

False positive drug test results can happen when a test indicates a chemical is present even though it isn’t actually in the body. False positive results can be caused by a variety of things, such as laboratory errors, pharmaceutical interactions, and cross-reactivity with other substances.

False positives for kratom can happen if the drug test isn’t tailored to find the kratom alkaloids precisely and instead reacts with other chemicals in the body. For instance, certain substances in various meals, medicines, or supplements may cross-react with certain drug tests, giving a false positive result for kratom.

False positive drug test results can also be caused by drug interactions. False positive results may come from the way that some drugs or supplements alter how the body breaks down and excretes compounds like kratom. To reduce the possibility of false positives, it’s crucial to tell the organization conducting the drug test about any prescription drugs or dietary supplements you’re taking.

False positive drug test results can also come from lab errors. These mistakes can happen at any point during the testing procedure, from sample collection to analysis. They can be brought on by a number of things, such as contamination, improper handling, or defective equipment.

It’s crucial to raise your concerns with the organization conducting the test if you receive a positive drug test result for kratom and think it might be a false positive. There might be options for additional testing or confirmation tests to help validate the findings and guarantee correctness.

Can Kratom cause a false positive?

Standard drug tests do not often include kratom, and specialized testing is needed to find kratom alkaloids in the body. For instance, the alkaloids included in kratom does not cross-react with certain drug tests that look for opioids.

Moreover, some drugs or supplements could interfere with the testing procedure and result in erroneous positive results. To reduce the possibility of false positives, it’s crucial to tell the organization conducting the drug test about any prescription drugs or dietary supplements you’re taking.

It’s crucial to raise your concerns with the organization conducting the test if you receive a positive drug test result for kratom and think it might be a false positive. There might be options for additional testing or confirmation tests to help validate the findings and guarantee correctness.

Substances that can cause a false positive drug test

Many drugs, including the following, have the potential to result in a false positive on a drug test:

1. Poppy seeds: Poppy seeds may generate a false positive for opioids in drug tests because they contain traces of opiates.

2. Ibuprofen: Large doses of ibuprofen have the potential to result in a false-positive drug test result for THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

3. Cold and allergy remedies: Certain cold and allergy remedies contain pseudoephedrine, which may result in a false-positive drug test result for amphetamines.

4. Antibiotics: A few medicines, including rifampin and rifampicin, have the potential to make drug tests for opioids mistakenly come back positive.

5. Antidepressants: Certain antidepressants, such as trazodone, may cause drug tests to come back positive for amphetamines.

Final thoughts on Kratom and drug testing

Like with any substance, it’s critical for users to be aware of the advantages and potential drawbacks of kratom use as well as the legal ramifications of drug testing. Even though kratom has demonstrated significant health advantages, it can also have psychotropic side effects and includes alkaloids that can be seen in drug tests.

It’s critical to comprehend the many types of drug tests and how kratom may be found in each if you are vulnerable to them. False positives can happen, although they are not common. You might wish to speak with a medical or legal expert if you are worried about a possible false positive.

Thus, it’s critical to use kratom properly and to understand any potential legal or professional repercussions. It’s always beneficial to speak with a medical or legal professional who can offer more information and advice if you have questions or concerns.

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