Kratom does not show up on typical 5-panel drug tests. However, some employers and agencies opt for more extensive drug test panels that screen for kratom analytes. The only way to know whether kratom will show up on a drug test is to ask the organization or laboratory about which panel they ordered and which compounds it includes.

This article briefly reviews the kratom plant and its properties, thoroughly investigates U.S. kratom laws, and answers the critical question: Does kratom show up on a drug test?

What is Kratom?

Kratom is an herbal plant native to Southeast Asia. It has been used for centuries culturally and therapeutically due to its opioid-like and stimulant properties. 

Southeast Asians reportedly chew or boil kratom leaves to increase productivity and reduce discomfort during arduous work days. Many use kratom medicinally as well to remedy issues like fever, cough, pain, anxiety, and hypertension. Kratom is also a recreational compound in Southeast Asia, used as an alcohol substitute during social gatherings. 

Kratom’s effects depend largely on the dose. In lower amounts, kratom acts as a stimulant, helping enhance alertness, reduce fatigue, and improve energy levels. At higher doses, kratom’s opioid-like properties help relieve pain and cause sedation (drowsiness or sleepiness).

Is Kratom Legal?

Kratom is legal to consume in the U.S. from a federal standpoint. However, several states have banned or restricted its use.

Federal kratom legality

Kratom is not on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) list of controlled substances, which means it is federally legal.  In 2016, the DEA tried to ban kratom chemicals. However, it backtracked after a severe outcry from kratom supporters and Congress members. 

Still, the DEA has classified kratom as a drug of concern “based on the conflicting reports made by the FDA, particularly with the deliberate adulteration and mislabeling of kratom products by some unscrupulous vendors in the kratom marketplace.”

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State kratom laws

From a state level, 13 states legally regulate kratom through the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KPCA). Six states have placed outright bans on kratom. And at least one has restricted use outside of the KPCA. 

States with kratom regulations: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and West Virginia regulate legal access to kratom through the KPCA. 

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Supported by the American Kratom Association, these states codified kratom accessibility through common sense rules, like: 

• Instituting age requirements, 21 and older. 
• Prohibiting the use of adulterants
• Limiting artificially elevating the amount of kratom’s active ingredients, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), in products, 
• Creating labeling and packaging standards  

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Other states, like Louisiana, are less amenable to kratom. Louisiana’s 2023 laws restrict kratom use to people 21 and over and allow municipalities to place outright bans on the plant. In some cities, such as Zachary in Louisiana, kratom is entirely illegal. 

States and cities with kratom bans: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin all ban kratom use and sales. Additionally, regions like Sarasota County in Florida, San Diego, California, Jerseyville, Illinois, Franklin, New Hampshire, and much of northeast Mississippi have banned or criminalized kratom use. 

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What Types of Drug Tests Can Detect Kratom?

Kratom's controversial legal status across the U.S. has led many people to wonder which drug tests will detect its presence.  

The short answer is that kratom won’t show up on most standard drug panels. However, extensive specialized drug tests may detect the presence of kratom’s main active ingredients. Drug tests that look for kratom’s psychoactive compounds, mitragynine, and 7-OH, will automatically register positive for kratom use.

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Standard Drug Tests (5, 10, and 12-panels)

Workplace drug tests, like Quest Diagnostics’ US Department of Transportation (DOT) 5-drug panel do not screen for kratom analytes. 

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Quest’s 5 Panel DOT typically includes:

• Amphetamines (Amphetamine and Methamphetamine)
• Cocaine metabolites  
• Marijuana metabolites  
• MDA-analogues (MDA and MDMA) 
• Opiates (Codeine and Morphine)
• 6-Acetylmorphine 
• Opiates (semi-synthetic) (Hydromorphone and Hydrocodone) 
• Oxycodones (Oxymorphone and Oxycodone)
• Phencyclidine

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Other 5-panel drug tests for non-DOT employment are even simpler than Quest’s, screening for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, phencyclidine (PCP), and opioids only.

Even 10 and 12-panel drug tests do not typically screen for kratom. Instead, they add barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, propoxyphene, tramadol, and others to the 5-panel test. 

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Specialized Drug Tests

Kratom can show up on specialized drug tests that specifically screen for mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine. However, employers do not routinely request these types of tests, as they are typically reserved for in-depth investigations or medical evaluations where law enforcement suspects use.  

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For example:

Quest Diagnostics offers three drug monitoring urine panels, a “Base,” “Plus,” and “Extended.” The Base and Plus panels do not screen for kratom compounds. Only the “Extended Panel” includes kratom’s most prominent alkaloid, mitragynine. 

Labcorp does not include kratom in any standard urine drug panel. Organizations that want Labcorp to look for 7-OH or mitragynine must order a specialized test (791750).

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Does Kratom Show Up as an Opioid on a Drug Test?

Kratom will not show up as an opioid on a standard drug test because mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine are distinct chemicals. However, kratom products are sometimes adulterated with opioids like fentanyl, heroin, buprenorphine, and morphine, according to the American Kratom Association. Thus, people who inadvertently ingest contaminated kratom products could fail standard drug tests.

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Brands that want to guarantee clean kratom products may want to send samples to ACS Laboratory for a full panel safety and potency test. 

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Factors Influencing Kratom Detection

Several factors, including frequency of use, dosage, type of testing method, body weight, hydration, and other individual factors, can influence whether or not drug tests that screen for kratom alkaloids will detect their presence. 

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Frequency of Use

Kratom has a half-life of about a day, which means it takes approximately 24 hours for the body to eliminate half of the consumed amount. However, this process is exponential, not linear, meaning small amounts of the drug can remain in the body for extended periods even after several half-lives have passed.

Additionally, repeated kratom use can lead to its accumulation in the body, potentially extending the detection time. Thus, frequent kratom consumption raises the likelihood of drug test detection over longer periods.

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Dosage and Metabolism

Kratom’s detectability is also influenced by dosage and metabolism. 

• Higher kratom doses persist in the body for longer durations, increasing the likelihood of detection in specialized tests. 
• Metabolism plays a role by breaking down the substance faster or slower in the body. 

A faster metabolism means the body breaks down substances like kratom more quickly. Rapid processing leads to quicker conversion of kratom into its metabolites (mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine) and subsequent faster elimination from the body. 

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Type of testing method

The type of drug test influences whether kratom shows a positive result. Standard drug tests are less sensitive to kratom, while specific tests that employ chromatography methods are more likely to detect kratom metabolites.

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How Long Does Kratom Last in Your System?

Kratom can linger for days before it is eliminated from the system. However, the timing will vary based on age, individual metabolism, weight, and kidney and liver function. 

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How Long Does Kratom Last in Urine?

Not enough research has been done to fully understand the exact length of time kratom stays detectable in the urine. However, some resources suggest that the plant’s metabolites can persist for up to a week following consumption. Metabolism and frequency of use will affect this timeframe. 

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How Long Does Kratom Last in Saliva?

The scientific literature does not clearly establish the exact duration that kratom can be detected in saliva. However, in general, saliva tests detect recent drug use, often within a few hours to a couple of days after consumption.

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How Long Does Kratom Last in Hair?

Hair follicle testing is one of the most reliable methods for detecting drug use over an extended period. Scientists are still investigating the specific detection window for Kratom in hair follicles. However, available information estimates that Kratom could be detectable in the hair for up to three months.

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How Long Does Kratom Last in Blood?

Kratom has a short duration in the blood. Some drug treatment facility websites indicate Kratom may last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days in the blood.

Are there Legal Implications if Kratom is Detected in a Drug Test?

People who fail an employment drug test for kratom likely wouldn't face legal consequences because laws primarily target possession and use. However, failing a drug test that screens for kratom could have professional consequences, such as losing a job or being ineligible for certain positions.

On the other hand, testing positive for kratom on court-ordered drug tests in jurisdictions with bans could result in legal consequences based on the state's laws. 

For example, parole/probation offenders in Sarasota caught with kratom in their system could face mandatory rehabilitation or up to 60 days in county jail, a $500 fine, and a required court appearance.

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Bottom Line

Kratom is generally legal in many U.S. states, and most workplaces do not routinely screen for the plant’s metabolites. 

ACS Laboratory works with leading Kratom brands that create safe, high-quality formulas. Learn more about our Kratom testing services, including potency and purity analyses. 

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FAQs

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Does kratom show up on a drug test? 

Kratom is not detected in standard 5-panel drug tests. However, some employers and organizations use more comprehensive drug testing panels that can identify kratom compounds.

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Does White Maeng Da Kratom show up on a drug test?

White Maeng Da, one of the most potent kratom strains, can only be detected in tests specifically designed to identify the plant’s alkaloids (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine). It is not detectable in routine drug screenings.

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Can hair follicle drug tests detect kratom?

Yes, kratom can be detected in hair follicle tests. But only if the panel screens for kratom alkaloids, which is unlikely. While there is limited research on the specific detection window, it's estimated that kratom could be detectable in hair for up to three months. Hair follicle tests are among the most reliable methods for detecting drug use over an extended period.

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Can blood tests detect kratom?

Blood tests can detect kratom, but they are not commonly used for standard drug screenings. Specialized blood tests looking for kratom’s active compounds, such as mitragynine, are more likely to identify its presence, but these tests are rarely requested.