Does CBD Oil Show Up On a Standard Drug Test?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a hemp-derived substance many find significantly beneficial, whether they’re alleviating aches and pains, aiming to improve their mood, or trying to get better sleep.

CBD is a 100% legal substance. But, in certain cases, a person who takes CBD will take a drug test revealing a positive result for a different compound: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC is another cannabis-derived substance, and it’s a popular element of both medical and recreational marijuana. Unlike CBD, THC has psychoactive effects. This affects different peoples’ moods and mental states in diverse ways, and it can be unsafe to use while driving or operating machinery.

Moreover, while several states have passed laws legalizing THC use in certain circumstances, it’s still classified as a Schedule 1 drug. So, it’s technically illegal under federal law.

This can cause problems for people who use CBD. Despite CBD’s legality, cannabidiol products often have trace amounts of THC in them, due to the complexities of the derivation process. While trace amounts aren’t enough to alter your body or mind, they can still show up on a drug test.

Given that possibility, what should CBD users do to protect themselves?

Reduce Likelihood Trace Amounts of THC Are Present In Your CBD

There are a few things a person can do to mitigate the risk a CBD product inadvertently includes THC:

Choose products with an unambiguous testing process and a Certificate of Analysis (CoA)

Choose an “isolate” CBD product, rather than a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum option

Select CBD products derived from the part of the hemp plant farthest away from the flower

If a drug test is mandated by your employer, consider advocating for an alternate testing method or similar accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Another option is to stop taking CBD for long enough for any traces of either it or THC to leave your system.

Different Types of Drug Tests

Drug tests differ by sample method and substances screened for. 5-panel, 10-panel, and 12-panel tests are typical.

5-Panel, 10-Panel, and 12-Panel Drug Tests

The 5-panel drug test used by the Department of Transportation looks for:

Marijuana (THC)
Cocaine
Amphetamines
Opioids
Phencyclidine (PCP)

The standard 10-panel drug test screens for the five substances above, as well as:

Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Methadone
Propoxyphene
Quaaludes

A 12-panel test typically includes additional screening for Ecstasy (MDMA) and Oxycodone (Percocet).

Characteristics of a Standard Drug Test

Standard drug tests are characterized by their confidentiality, accuracy, randomness, and what is sampled.

Confidentiality

While employers and courts may legally act on your drug test results, they must also keep the information private under HIPAA.

Accuracy (Rate of False Positives)

Test analysis options, ranked from least accurate (most frequent false positives) to the most accurate:

Immunoassay test analysis
Gas Spectrometry (GS)
Liquid Chromatography (LV)
Mass Spectrometry (MS)

GS-MS analysis is used for confirmation testing.

Randomness

Drug tests may be randomly administered, you may be given some notice.

Drug Test Characteristics by Sample Type

These are the most utilized sample types.

Urine

Collection

Urine samples are collected by peeing into a clean container under direct or nearby supervision by same-sex authority. Once closed, the waterproof and airtight container is sent to a lab.

Detection

Casual use of cannabinoids can be detected in urine for 1-3 days after the last use. Chronic use can be detected up to 30 days after the last use.

Hair Follicle Test

Collection

Hair follicle samples are typically 200 strands of hair, 1.5 inches long or longer, collected by cutting the hair close to the scalp.

Detection

It typically takes 7-10 days after a drug is taken for it to show up on a hair follicle test. Hair follicle tests indicate whether a person has drug metabolites in their system for up to 90 days after their last use of the drug.

Blood Sample

Collection

Blood samples are collected by a professional phlebotomist in a sterile environment, through a small needle.

Detection

THC can be detected in blood or saliva between 2-12 hours after it was last ingested.

How Long Can CBD Last In Your System?

How long cannabinoids like CBD and THC remain in a person’s body depends on four factors:

The quantity of cannabinoids consumed over time
Individual rate of metabolism
The specific cannabinoid’s half-life
What percentage of a drug’s dose actually moves through the body’s blood system (bioavailability)

It typically takes 4-5 half-lives for a body to completely eliminate a drug.

THC Half-Life, Solubility, and Duration of Presence

Bioavailability	10% to 35% (inhaled); 4% to 12% (oral)
Blood Plasma Half-Life	1 to 3 days (occasional use / single joint); 5 to 14 days (chronic use)
Fat Solubility	Yes, stored in fat cells quickly
Duration of Presence In Urine	1 – 3 days (single joint / infrequent use)within an hour after use 10 – 15 days (avg. moderate use) Up to 30 days (chronic use) Present within 1 hour
Duration of Presence In Hair Follicle	Not present. Detected by discerning metabolites: present 7-10 days after first use, up to 90 days after last use.

CBD Half-Life, Solubility, and Duration of Presence

Bioavailability	11% to 45% (inhaled); 6% (oral)
Blood Plasma Half-Life	1.4 to 10.9 hours (spray); 18 to 32 hours (inhaled); 2 to 5 days (oral) Present in blooddtream 3 to 6 days after use
Fat Solubility	None
Duration of Presence In Urine	Up to 7 days
Duration of Presence In Hair Follicle	Up to 90 days

Get Safe, Transparently-Sourced CBD At Hippie & French

As cannabis connoisseurs, the team at Hippie & French offers a hand-picked selection of artisan, high-quality CBD products.

Visit us at 5122 Butler St. Pittsburgh, PA 15201, from 11:00 to 7:00 every day of the week. Or, order from our online store or by phone: (412) 407-9287.