Does Kratom Show Up on a Drug Test?

Short answer

No, kratom doesn't show up on a standard drug test. Routine urine drug screens use immunoassays, and they don't look for mitragynine, kratom's main compound.

Kratom can be detected, though. It takes a kratom-specific lab test, and the person or company testing you has to order it. For the basics, see what is kratom.

Standard panels (5, 10, 12)

The common 5, 10 and 12-panel tests are immunoassay screens. None of them includes mitragynine unless the lab adds it.

Panels vary by lab.

Kratom-specific tests

Kratom-specific tests use liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). It's a precise lab method that identifies mitragynine directly.

Quicker screening tests for mitragynine in urine, called ELISA tests, are in development. For now, a kratom result almost always means a lab test someone chose to run.

Does kratom show up as an opiate?

Kratom isn't expected to show up as an opiate. Standard opiate screens don't detect mitragynine.

In one published case, a person who overdosed on kratom had a urine drug screen that was negative for opioids. If a test comes back positive for opiates after kratom, another substance or a contaminated product is the likely cause.

7-OH testing

There's very little published data on testing for 7-OH. No study we found gives a detection window for it, and standard panels aren't designed to find it.

The bigger testing issue with 7-OH is what else is in the product. DEA testing found 7-OH samples that also contained fentanyl, benzodiazepines such as bromazolam, and ketamine. Standard panels can flag some of those drugs, even if you only meant to take 7-OH.

False positives

There's no published evidence of other substances causing a false positive for kratom. Kratom-specific lab tests identify mitragynine itself.

Who tests for kratom

Kratom testing has to be ordered on purpose, so it comes down to the tester. Employers, courts, probation programs, addiction treatment programs and the military each set their own panels. We couldn't find a published list of who adds kratom. If it matters for you, ask what your test includes.

How long kratom stays detectable depends on how much you use, how often, and the test. Read more on how long kratom stays in your system.

If you're worried about your kratom use

If a drug test has you thinking about cutting back, that's a good moment to plan it. Stopping regular use can cause kratom withdrawal, so work out the plan with a licensed doctor.

Doctronic doesn't treat addiction and doesn't run detox. Doctronic's medical AI chat is free. A video visit with a licensed doctor is $39, and the doctor can help with symptoms and refer you to addiction care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a routine urine test at my doctor's office show kratom?

No. Routine screens don't look for kratom. If you want your doctor to know, tell them, since kratom can matter for other medicines you take.

Can kratom make me test positive for fentanyl?

Kratom itself won't, but a contaminated product can. Some 7-OH products tested by the DEA contained fentanyl.

Can a home drug test detect kratom?

Usually not. A home test can only find kratom if mitragynine or kratom is on its list of drugs. If it isn't listed, the test won't find it.

Can I ask what my drug test checks for?

Yes. Ask the employer, program or lab for the list of substances on the panel before or after the test.

The Bottom Line

Kratom doesn't show up on standard 5, 10 or 12-panel drug tests. It takes a kratom-specific lab test, which someone has to order. If you're thinking about cutting back, talk to a licensed doctor about a plan.