Substance · opioid
Opioids (opiates)
The federal panel's opiates assay targets morphine, codeine, and 6-acetylmorphine (a heroin-specific marker). Semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone are detected by separate, expanded panels and require additional analytes.
Last updated:What is Opioids (opiates)?
Opioids are a class of compounds — natural (morphine, codeine), semi-synthetic (oxycodone, hydrocodone), and synthetic (fentanyl, methadone) — that bind to opioid receptors. Standard "opiate" immunoassays primarily detect morphine and codeine; expanded assays add semi-synthetics; fentanyl and norfentanyl became part of the federal panel in 2025.
Panels that include Opioids (opiates)
What drug tests detect
Drug tests for Opioids (opiates) typically target the following analytes / metabolites:
- Morphine
- Codeine
- 6-acetylmorphine (heroin-specific)
- Hydromorphone
- Oxymorphone
Confirmation testing uses GC-MS or LC-MS/MS.
Detection windows
| Specimen | Window | Pattern | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | 1–3 days | occasional | Morphine/codeine typically clear within ~3 days. |
| 3–7 days | chronic | Detection extends with chronic use, particularly with semi-synthetics. | |
| Saliva | 1–48 hours | typical | Oral fluid window is short; useful for recent use detection. |
| Blood | 1–24 hours | typical | Plasma half-life is generally short. |
| Hair | 7–90 days | typical | ~7–10 day incorporation delay; hair is not federally approved. |
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.
- Poppy seeds (ingestion, not cross-reactivity, but causes positive immunoassay)
- Quinolone antibiotics (rare)
- Rifampin (rare)
Sources & references
drugtest.co content is sourced from primary regulatory and clinical references. We do not cite gray-market or "how to pass" sources.