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Hi, Someone Who Isn't Me Used Methamphetamine 11 Days Ago

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Posted on Fri, 11 Sep 2020
Question: Hi, someone who isn't me used methamphetamine 11 days ago and is wondering if they would pass a urinalysis screening at 500ng/ml? They are a 5'11 male, 240 lbs. Age 27
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (0 minute later)
Hi, someone who isn't me used methamphetamine 11 days ago and is wondering if they would pass a urinalysis screening at 500ng/ml? They are a 5'11 male, 240 lbs. Age 27
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
almost certainly.

Detailed Answer:
Methamphetamine doesn't stay in the body that long. 5 days is about the limit. double that is pretty guaranteed. Additionally, 500 ng/ml is a bit on the high cut off side. Frankly, the person is more likely to have a false positive (decongestants and many other drugs are similar and cross react) than a real one.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
almost certainly.

Detailed Answer:
Methamphetamine doesn't stay in the body that long. 5 days is about the limit. double that is pretty guaranteed. Additionally, 500 ng/ml is a bit on the high cut off side. Frankly, the person is more likely to have a false positive (decongestants and many other drugs are similar and cross react) than a real one.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Then it gets... interesting.

Detailed Answer:
Anywhere that does one urine test does many many of them. We don't do the more expensive confirmatory test if the screen is negative. So.... the nature of the question implies the initial test is positive. Mostly this is because someone lied about their use of drugs. In which case the confirmatory test is guaranteed to confirm the use of drugs. This could occur with a false positive in this case. the difference between the 100 and 500 cut off actually isn't all that big a difference. The drug has a half life of about 10 hrs so a 5 fold difference is about 1 day. 10 days is a LOT of time to get rid of the drug. 20 half lives or 2 to the 20th power.
so, lying about the drug use is a big deal. If not lying, then the confirmatory test is one's friend.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Then it gets... interesting.

Detailed Answer:
Anywhere that does one urine test does many many of them. We don't do the more expensive confirmatory test if the screen is negative. So.... the nature of the question implies the initial test is positive. Mostly this is because someone lied about their use of drugs. In which case the confirmatory test is guaranteed to confirm the use of drugs. This could occur with a false positive in this case. the difference between the 100 and 500 cut off actually isn't all that big a difference. The drug has a half life of about 10 hrs so a 5 fold difference is about 1 day. 10 days is a LOT of time to get rid of the drug. 20 half lives or 2 to the 20th power.
so, lying about the drug use is a big deal. If not lying, then the confirmatory test is one's friend.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (11 minutes later)
Thank you! The 500 ng/ml is the immunoassay screen. Normally, the sample wouldn't be tested further. However, if it did, should they not even worry about the 100 ng/ml confirmatory test?
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (0 minute later)
Thank you! The 500 ng/ml is the immunoassay screen. Normally, the sample wouldn't be tested further. However, if it did, should they not even worry about the 100 ng/ml confirmatory test?
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (24 minutes later)
It probably won't get tested further. It was just a preemptive question out of concern. The test was only taken today and the results probably won't come back for at least a week. Also, how would alcohol affect the process?
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (0 minute later)
It probably won't get tested further. It was just a preemptive question out of concern. The test was only taken today and the results probably won't come back for at least a week. Also, how would alcohol affect the process?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
alcohol is irrelevant.

Detailed Answer:
It isn't going to have anything to do with the test. It doesn't cross react. It doesn't change the pharmacology much. it doesn't interact with any of the tests.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
alcohol is irrelevant.

Detailed Answer:
It isn't going to have anything to do with the test. It doesn't cross react. It doesn't change the pharmacology much. it doesn't interact with any of the tests.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (2 hours later)
Lastly, a home drug test with a cutoff level of 1000 ng/ml was passed on Friday afternoon before the employment test on Monday. So its even more certain to pass?
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (0 minute later)
Lastly, a home drug test with a cutoff level of 1000 ng/ml was passed on Friday afternoon before the employment test on Monday. So its even more certain to pass?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (27 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
yes and probably.

Detailed Answer:
so, if it were 1000 with a half life of even 24 hrs... it would be 500 on sat. 250 on sun 125 on monday.
and
it was lower than 1000; probably lower than 100
it drops faster than that... probably about double, so it would be 500, 250, 125, then 63, 32, 16. Nobody goes down below 50.
so, wow, it's covered about 3 different ways (it passed the over the counter test; the time is long, the half life is short)
but,
it doesn't help if he uses again on Sunday.
that happens pretty frequently.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
yes and probably.

Detailed Answer:
so, if it were 1000 with a half life of even 24 hrs... it would be 500 on sat. 250 on sun 125 on monday.
and
it was lower than 1000; probably lower than 100
it drops faster than that... probably about double, so it would be 500, 250, 125, then 63, 32, 16. Nobody goes down below 50.
so, wow, it's covered about 3 different ways (it passed the over the counter test; the time is long, the half life is short)
but,
it doesn't help if he uses again on Sunday.
that happens pretty frequently.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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Hi, Someone Who Isn't Me Used Methamphetamine 11 Days Ago

Hi, someone who isn't me used methamphetamine 11 days ago and is wondering if they would pass a urinalysis screening at 500ng/ml? They are a 5'11 male, 240 lbs. Age 27