Substance · opioid
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid. SAMHSA added fentanyl and its metabolite norfentanyl to the federal urine and oral-fluid panels effective July 7, 2025, reflecting its role in the overdose crisis. It is also detected on most expanded clinical panels.
Last updated:What is Fentanyl?
A short-acting, highly potent synthetic μ-opioid receptor agonist. Drug-test detection targets the parent compound and its primary metabolite norfentanyl; immunoassay cross-reactivity to its many analogs (e.g., carfentanil) is variable.
Panels that include Fentanyl
What drug tests detect
Drug tests for Fentanyl typically target the following analytes / metabolites:
- Norfentanyl
Confirmation testing uses LC-MS/MS.
Detection windows
| Specimen | Window | Pattern | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | 1–3 days | typical | Window approximate; chronic exposure may extend slightly. |
| Saliva | 1–48 hours | typical | Oral fluid window short. |
| Blood | 1–24 hours | typical | Very short plasma half-life. |
Ranges are approximate and vary by individual physiology, hydration, dose, frequency of use, and lab cutoff. They are not predictive of whether someone will "pass" a test.
Cross-reactivity and MRO interpretation
The following can affect initial immunoassay screening and are normally resolved by mass-spectrometry confirmation and MRO review. None of these are a reason to draw conclusions from a single screening result.
- Not commonly cross-reactive at immunoassay screening cutoffs
Sources & references
drugtest.co content is sourced from primary regulatory and clinical references. We do not cite gray-market or "how to pass" sources.