{"data":{"id":"us/10-cfr-26.163","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"10 CFR 26.163","heading":"Cutoff levels for drugs and drug metabolites.","body":"(a) Initial drug testing. (1) HHS-certified laboratories shall apply the following cutoff levels for initial testing of specimens to determine whether they are negative or positive for the indicated drugs and drug metabolites, except as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section or the licensee or other entity has established more stringent cutoff levels:\nTable 1 to Paragraph (a)(1)—Urine, Initial Test Cutoff Levels for Drugs and Drug Metabolites\nDrugs or drug metabolites Cutoff level [nanograms (ng)/mL]\nMarijuana metabolites 50\nCocaine metabolites 150\nOpioids:\nCodeine/Morphine1 2,000\nHydrocodone/Hydromorphone 300\nOxycodone/Oxymorphone 100\n6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) 10\nPhencyclidine (PCP) 25\nAmphetamines: 2\nAMP/MAMP 3 500\nMDMA 4/MDA 5 500\n1 Morphine is the target analyte for codeine/morphine testing.\n2 Either a single initial test kit or multiple initial test kits may be used provided the single test kit detects each target analyte independently at the specified cutoff.\n3 Methamphetamine (MAMP) is the target analyte for amphetamine (AMP)/MAMP testing.\n4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.\n5 Methylenedioxyamphetamine.\nTable 2 to Paragraph (a)(1)—Oral Fluid, Initial Test Cutoff Levels for Drugs and Drug Metabolites\nDrugs or drug metabolites Cutoff level 1 [nanograms (ng)/mL]\nMarijuana (THC) 2 3 4\nCocaine/Benzoylecgonine 15\nOpioids:\nCodeine/Morphine 30\nHydrocodone/Hydromorphone 30\nOxycodone/Oxymorphone 30\n6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) 4 3\nPhencyclidine (PCP) 10\nAmphetamines:\nAMP/MAMP 4 50\nMDMA/MDA 5 50\n1 For grouped analytes (i.e., two or more analytes in the same drug class with the same initial test cutoff):\n• Immunoassay: The test must be calibrated with one analyte from the group identified as the target analyte. The cross reactivity of the immunoassay to the other analyte(s) within the group must be 80 percent or greater; if not, separate immunoassays must be used for the analytes within the group.\n• Alternative technology: Either one analyte or all analytes from the group must be used for calibration, depending on the technology. At least one analyte within the group must have a concentration equal to or greater than the initial test cutoff or, alternatively, the sum of the analytes present.\n2 An immunoassay must be calibrated with the target analyte, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).\n3 Alternate technology (THC and 6-AM): The confirmatory tests cutoff must be used for an alternate technology initial test that is specific for the target analyte (i.e., 2 ng/mL for THC, 2 ng/mL for 6-AM).\n4 Amphetamine (AMP) and methamphetamine (MAMP).\n5 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA).\n(2) HHS-certified laboratories shall conduct special analyses of specimens as follows:\n(i) If initial validity testing indicates that a specimen is dilute, or if a specimen is collected under direct observation for any of the conditions specified in § 26.115(a)(1) through (3) or (a)(5), the laboratory shall compare the immunoassay responses of the specimen to the cutoff calibrator in each drug class tested;\n(ii) If any immunoassay response is equal to or greater than 40 percent of the cutoff calibrator, the laboratory shall conduct confirmatory drug testing of the specimen to the LOQ for those drugs and/or drug metabolites; and\n(iii) The laboratory shall report the numerical values obtained from this special analysis to the MRO.\n(b) Confirmatory drug testing. (1) A specimen that is identified as positive on an initial drug test must be subject to confirmatory testing for the class(es) of drugs for which the specimen initially tested positive. The HHS-certified laboratory shall apply the confirmatory cutoff levels specified in this paragraph, except as permitted in paragraph (a)(2) of this section or the licensee or other entity has established more stringent cutoff levels.\nTable 3 to Paragraph (b)(1)—Urine, Confirmatory Test Cutoff Levels for Drugs and Drug Metabolites\nDrugs or drug metabolites Cutoff level (ng/mL)\nMarijuana metabolite 1 15\nCocaine metabolite 2 100\nOpioids:\nMorphine 2,000\nCodeine 2,000\nHydrocodone 100\nHydromorphone 100\nOxycodone 100\nOxymorphone 100\n6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) 10\nPhencyclidine (PCP) 25\nAmphetamines:\nAmphetamine 250\nMethamphetamine 3 250\nMethylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) 250\nMethylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) 250\n1 As delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCA).\n2 As benzoylecgonine.\n3 To be reported positive for methamphetamine, a specimen must also contain amphetamine at a concentration equal to or greater than 100 ng/mL.\nTable 4 to Paragraph (b)(1)—Oral Fluid, Confirmatory Test Cutoff Levels for Drugs and Drug Metabolites\nDrugs or drug metabolites Cutoff level [nanograms (ng)/mL]\nMarijuana (THC) 2\nCocaine 8\nBenzoylecgonine 8\nOpioids:\nCodeine 15\nMorphine 15\nHydrocodone 15\nHydromorphone 15\nOxycodone 15\nOxymorphone 15\n6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) 2\nPhencyclidine (PCP) 10\nAmphetamines:\nAmphetamine 25\nMethamphetamine 25\nMethylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) 25\nMethylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) 25\n(2) Each confirmatory drug test must provide a quantitative result. When the concentration of a drug or metabolite exceeds the linear range of the standard curve, the laboratory may record the result as “exceeds the linear range of the test” or as “equal to or greater than \u003cinsert the value for the upper limit of the linear range\u003e,” or may dilute an aliquot of the specimen to obtain an accurate quantitative result when the concentration is above the upper limit of the linear range.","path":["Title 10—Energy","CHAPTER I—NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION","PART 26—FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS","Subpart G—Laboratories Certified by the Department of Health and Human Services"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-10.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:24:09Z","sha256":"c2027702220c19a347f4d516ce036a923946fce8d932481da75db30b4a297c9c","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/10-cfr-26.161","next":"us/10-cfr-26.165"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}