Drug Profiles, Targeted by Mass Spectrometry and Enzyme Immunoassay

Last Literature Review: March 2023 Last Update:
  • Use to monitor medication compliance and to detect undisclosed drug/substance use in support of pain management, substance use disorders treatment, and other pharmacotherapies involving controlled substances.
  • If Drug Profile, Targeted with Interpretation (2009288) is ordered, submission of a medication history is required to optimize reporting. A faculty clinical toxicologist personally compares submitted medication information with test results to provide expert interpretation.

Urine drug testing is useful to assess for medication compliance and/or undisclosed substance use. Although quantitative testing is available, there are several preanalytic factors, such as individual metabolism and elimination, genetics, and interactions between prescribed and/or illicit substances, that can impact the concentration of target analytes in urine and, subsequently, complicate results interpretation.

In most cases, qualitative definitive testing is sufficient to determine the presence of relevant analytes, including prescription drugs, their metabolites, and illicit substances. When results are inconsistent with clinical expectations (eg, based on patient history), consultation is available to discuss results interpretation and possible secondary testing.

Test Interpretation

Sensitivity/Specificity

Analytic sensitivity: dependent on the cutoff concentrations for applicable drugs and drug classes. The concentration at which a drug or metabolite is detected varies by analyte. For a complete list of cutoff concentrations, refer to Mass Spectrometry Analysis and Immunoassay Analysis.

Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Specificity: The following list of analytes is tested by mass spectrometry, the gold-standard method for urine drug testing.

AnalyteCutoff Concentration (ng/mL)Additional Analyte Details
Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Analogues
Gabapentin (Neurontin)3,000
Pregabalin (Lyrica)3,000
Opioids
6-acetylmorphinea20Metabolite of heroin
Buprenorphine (Suboxoneb, Belbuca)5
Codeinea40
Fentanyl (Duragesic)2
Hydrocodonea (Norco, Vicodin)40Metabolite of codeine
Hydromorphonea (Dilaudid)20Metabolite of morphine and hydrocodone
Morphinea (MS Contin)20Metabolite of 6-acetylmorphine and codeine
Naloxone (Narcan)100
Norbuprenorphine20Metabolite of buprenorphine
Norfentanyl2Metabolite of fentanyl
Norhydrocodonea100Metabolite of hydrocodone
Normeperidine (Demerol)50Metabolite of meperidine
Noroxycodonea100Metabolite of oxycodone
Noroxymorphonea100Metabolite of noroxycodone and oxymorphone; chemically identical to nornaloxone
Oxycodonea (Percocet)40
Oxymorphonea (Opana)40Metabolite of oxycodone
Tapentadol (Nucynta)100
Tapentadol-o-sulfate200Metabolite of tapentadol
Sedative-Hypnotics
7-aminoclonazepam40Metabolite of clonazepam
Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam20Metabolite of alprazolam
Alpha-hydroxymidazolam20Metabolite of midazolam
Alprazolam (Xanax)40
Clonazepam (Klonopin)20
Diazepam (Valium)50
Lorazepam (Ativan)60
Midazolam (Versed)20
Nordiazepamc (Nordaz)50Metabolite of diazepam
Oxazepamc (Serax)50Metabolite of nordiazepam and temazepam
Temazepamc (Restoril)50Metabolite of diazepam
Zolpidem (Ambien)20
Zolpidem 4-phenyl carboxylic acid100Metabolite of zolpidem
Stimulants
3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)200Metabolite of MDEA and MDMA
3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA, Eve)200
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy, Molly)200
Amphetamine (Vyvanse, Adderall)50Metabolite of methamphetamine
Methamphetamine200
Methylphenidate (Focalin, Ritalin)100
Phentermine (Lomaira)100

aRefer to Opiates and Opioid Metabolism for a visual representation of the metabolic pathway for relevant opioids.

bCoformulation with Naloxone.

cRefer to Benzodiazepine Metabolism for a visual representation of the metabolic pathway for relevant sedative hypnotics.

Immunoassay Analysis

Specificity: The following list of analytes is tested by immunoassay. The included immunoassays are continuously monitored and have demonstrated low false-positive rates. Note that certain analytes may cross-react with similar substances; detected cross-reacting substances cannot be distinguished by immunoassay. When cross-reactivity is a concern, or when an immunoassay result does not correlate with the patient history, secondary testing by mass spectrometry is available. Refer to the Laboratory Test Directory for specific test offerings.

Analyte(s)Cutoff Concentrations (ng/mL)Additional Immunoassay Details
Barbiturates200

Targets secobarbital

Cross-reacts with amobarbital, butalbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital

Carisoprodol100

Targets carisoprodol

Cross-reacts with major active metabolite meprobamate

Cocaine150Targets major metabolite benzoylecgonine
Ethyl glucuronide500
Methadone150

Targets methadone

Cross-reacts with major metabolite 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP)

Phencyclidine (PCP)25
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)20

Targets delta-9 THC metabolite

Cross-reacts with delta-8 THC metabolite

Tramadol100

Targets tramadol

Cross-reacts with major metabolites O-desmethyltramadol and N-desmethyltramadol

Results

A qualitative result is provided for each analyte in the panel. If testing with interpretation is ordered, results will be compared with the submitted patient medication list and a faculty clinical toxicologist will provide expert interpretation.

ResultsReported AsInterpretive Note
PositivePresentIndicates a specific analyte was detected above the established cutoff concentration
NegativeNot DetectedThe absence of an expected drug or drug metabolite may indicate noncompliance, inappropriate timing of specimen collection relative to drug administration, poor drug absorption, diluted/adulterated urine, or limitations of testing.

Limitations

  • Certain analytes tested by immunoassay may cross-react with similar substances. Refer to Immunoassay Analysis for more details.
  • Detected cross-reacting substances cannot be distinguished by immunoassay.