Regulations last checked for updates: May 02, 2025

Title 10 - Energy last revised: Apr 21, 2025
All TitlesTitle 10Chapter IPart 26Subpart G - Subpart G—Laboratories Certified by the Department of Health and Human Services
View all text of Subpart G [§ 26.151 - § 26.169]
§ 26.163 - Cutoff levels for drugs and drug metabolites.

(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:

Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(1)—Urine, Initial Test Cutoff Levels for Drugs and Drug Metabolites

Drugs or drug metabolites Cutoff level
[nanograms
(ng)/mL]
Marijuana metabolites50
Cocaine metabolites150
Opioids:
Codeine/Morphine 12,000
Hydrocodone/Hydromorphone300
Oxycodone/Oxymorphone100
6-acetylmorphine (6-AM)10
Phencyclidine (PCP)25
Amphetamines: 2
AMP/MAMP 3500
MDMA 4/MDA 5500

1 Morphine is the target analyte for codeine/morphine testing.

2 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.

3 Methamphetamine (MAMP) is the target analyte for amphetamine (AMP)/MAMP testing.

4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

5 Methylenedioxyamphetamine.

Table 2 to Paragraph (a)(1)—Oral Fluid, Initial Test Cutoff Levels for Drugs and Drug Metabolites

Drugs or drug metabolites Cutoff level 1
[nanograms
(ng)/mL]
Marijuana (THC) 2 34
Cocaine/Benzoylecgonine15
Opioids:
Codeine/Morphine30
Hydrocodone/Hydromorphone30
Oxycodone/Oxymorphone30
6-acetylmorphine (6-AM)4 3
Phencyclidine (PCP)10
Amphetamines:
AMP/MAMP 450
MDMA/MDA 550

1 For grouped analytes (i.e., two or more analytes in the same drug class with the same initial test cutoff):

• 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.

• 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.

2 An immunoassay must be calibrated with the target analyte, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

3 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).

4 Amphetamine (AMP) and methamphetamine (MAMP).

5 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA).

(2) HHS-certified laboratories shall conduct special analyses of specimens as follows:

(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;

(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

(iii) The laboratory shall report the numerical values obtained from this special analysis to the MRO.

(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.

Table 3 to Paragraph (b)(1)—Urine, Confirmatory Test Cutoff Levels for Drugs and Drug Metabolites

Drugs or drug metabolites Cutoff level
(ng/mL)
Marijuana metabolite 115
Cocaine metabolite 2100
Opioids:
Morphine2,000
Codeine2,000
Hydrocodone100
Hydromorphone100
Oxycodone100
Oxymorphone100
6-acetylmorphine (6-AM)10
Phencyclidine (PCP)25
Amphetamines:
Amphetamine250
Methamphetamine 3250
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)250
Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)250

1 As delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCA).

2 As benzoylecgonine.

3 To be reported positive for methamphetamine, a specimen must also contain amphetamine at a concentration equal to or greater than 100 ng/mL.

Table 4 to Paragraph (b)(1)—Oral Fluid, Confirmatory Test Cutoff Levels for Drugs and Drug Metabolites

Drugs or drug metabolites Cutoff level
[nanograms
(ng)/mL]
Marijuana (THC)2
Cocaine8
Benzoylecgonine8
Opioids:
Codeine15
Morphine15
Hydrocodone15
Hydromorphone15
Oxycodone15
Oxymorphone15
6-acetylmorphine (6-AM)2
Phencyclidine (PCP)10
Amphetamines:
Amphetamine25
Methamphetamine25
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)25
Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)25

(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 <insert the value for the upper limit of the linear range>,” 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.

[73 FR 17176, Mar. 31, 2008, as amended at 87 FR 71460, Nov. 22, 2022]
authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 53, 103, 104, 107, 161, 223, 234, 1701 (42 U.S.C. 2073,2133,2134,2137,2201,2273,2282,2297f; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202 (42 U.S.C. 5841,5842; 44 U.S.C. 3504 note
source: 73 FR 17176, Mar. 31, 2008, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 10 CFR 26.163
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