Mitragyna speciosa, commonly known as Kratom, is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain psychoactive alkaloid compounds. As Kratom use has grown in the United States, questions about its detectability in routine screening procedures have increased. Drug testing is a common practice in workplaces, medical settings, and legal contexts to monitor the presence of controlled substances.
Understanding the Standard 12-Panel Drug Screen
A standard drug screen, such as the 12-panel test, detects a specific, predetermined list of substances in a biological sample, typically urine. This screening utilizes an immunoassay, which relies on antibodies engineered to bind to the chemical structure of target drugs or their metabolites. The “12” in the name refers to the categories of substances screened, not the total number of individual compounds.
These categories generally encompass common drug classes, including cocaine, amphetamines, THC, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and opiates. The initial test is a rapid, cost-effective screening method that flags a sample as positive or negative. If a sample screens positive, it proceeds to a more accurate confirmation test to verify the result and identify the specific compound.
Kratom Detection on Standard Drug Panels
Kratom’s primary active alkaloid, mitragynine, is not routinely included on commercial 12-panel drug tests. Standard immunoassays are engineered to detect only a defined set of compounds, so the antibodies used generally do not recognize the unique molecular structure of mitragynine. The test is designed to target metabolites of common drugs like morphine or oxycodone, not the chemically distinct alkaloids found in Kratom.
Because mitragynine is structurally different from traditional opiates or synthetic opioids, the standard opiate/opioid panel on a 12-panel screen will not flag Kratom use. Standard drug screening panels focus on federally regulated or commonly abused substances. Therefore, without a specific, custom-ordered panel, Kratom will not be detected.
Specialized Testing Methods for Kratom
While standard panels are ineffective, specialized toxicological testing can accurately detect Kratom’s active compounds. These advanced methods are employed when a specific search for Kratom is requested or mandated by an employer or legal authority. The most common specialized techniques are Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
These mass spectrometry methods separate the chemical components of the sample and identify them based on their unique molecular weight and fragmentation patterns. This process allows for the precise identification and quantification of mitragynine and its metabolite, 7-hydroxymitragynine, even at very low concentrations. Such testing is significantly more expensive and time-consuming than the initial immunoassay screen.
The detection window for mitragynine varies based on factors like dosage, frequency of use, and individual metabolism. For occasional users, mitragynine can be detected for one to three days after the last dose. For heavy or chronic users, the alkaloids may remain detectable in the urine for up to seven to nine days.
Potential for Misidentification and False Positives
Despite not being a standard target, Kratom use could result in an inaccurate positive result for another substance on an immunoassay. This phenomenon is known as cross-reactivity, where the antibodies in the screening test mistakenly bind to a chemically similar compound. Kratom’s complex alkaloid composition means that a metabolite could mimic the structure of a different drug.
Some laboratory reports indicate that Kratom use can cause a false positive result for methadone on certain immunoassay screens. This cross-reactivity occurs because a Kratom metabolite interacts with the antibodies intended to detect the methadone metabolite, EDDP. When a presumptive positive occurs, the sample must be sent for confirmation testing using a highly accurate method like LC-MS/MS.
The confirmation test accurately distinguishes between the Kratom metabolite and the actual target drug, resolving the false positive. Individuals undergoing drug testing who use Kratom should be aware of this potential for cross-reactivity, particularly for the methadone panel. Disclosing all substances used to the testing facility can help ensure accurate interpretation of the initial screening result.