Many companies are frequently testing their employees and potential employees for drug and alcohol. The reason being they need to have a safe and productive environment at work.
The industry provides cut-off levels in all drug testing. If someone has had an alcohol level of over 0.80 this could be considered a level of alcohol intoxication. Drug testing also has the same defined cut-off levels.
Drug and alcohol testing will provide a clear indication on the levels of cutoff for each drug tested and if the donor is above the level of the cut-off or below. The cutoff levels vary depending on the type of test that is conducted.
The value of Cut-off levels in drug and alcohol testing
Companies and organization including individuals need to understand that the industry has scientifically determine the level that is deemed a cut-off level in both alcohol and drug testing. Using cut-off levels for employers helps them retain the objectivity of the test for each person.
If a person is beyond or at the cut-off level, the individual is then on the drug or alcohol that is being tested. This approach is scientific and accurate.
Employers must use the industry level cut-off levels to determine the absence or presence of alcohol or drugs in a person’s system. Laboratories like SmarTest Labs will provide certificates by employee being tested for the specific cut offs and the results of the test to the employer.
How does the cut-off levels work and relate to the human body?
A drug test determines if a metabolite of a drug is present in the human body. The human body creates a metabolite when the drug is broken down in the human body. This procedure is the same for all human beings. Hence, the cut-off levels can be applied to everyone.
The presence of a metabolite will determine if a person has taken the drug and the amount of the drug taken in relation to the cut-off. This helps determine if the person has risk factors.
Courts use this as a gauge in making decisions on court cases and extent of abuse in a person.
Cutoff Levels of various drugs
Cut-off levels for drugs and alcohol can be applied depending on a situation. Laboratories have cut-off levels for individuals that are not mandated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). However, the DOT has clear guidelines for employees in sensitive job functions. These cut-off levels are listed below.
It is highly recommended that even those organizations not mandated by DOT, use the cut-off levels to manage their testing approaches.
| 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. |
Source: US Department of Transport
Assistance with Drug and alcohol testing
Please call for assistance and guidance with drug and alcohol testing for your organization, for yourself or for legal purposes. SmarTest Labs located in Maryland and serves Maryland, WA DC, Virginia (VA) and surroundings.
We are located at 301-686-8566
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