Kratom drug test is the medical test devised to investigate the presence of Mitragyna Speciosa inside the body.
Ketum is a herbal product having sedative and stimulating properties. It has gained much popularity due to tremendous pain-relieving and anxiety control effects. People widely use it to get rid of opiate crave and withdrawal symptoms. For this, scientific society has referred to it as a drug.
While performing a detection test for kratom, many aspects are recognized. The most important is to know who is more likely to examine you. Is it your workplace? Pain clinics? Or the probation officers?
The reason behind is that all the routine and conventional experimental procedures usually carried out at your workplace are routine urine tests. These testes are immunoassay unearthing the common drugs by using antibodies against them. These are unable to detect kratom in the body.
But if you get a drug test from a clinic or probation officer, they for sure go for a range of tests that may include a check for spotting of kratom. In such cases, you need to refrain from the use of kratom at least two weeks before to clear the test.
Why is there a need for Kratom drug test?
The simple and most important reason for having drug tests is drug abuse. While Kratom may not be that addictive compared to opioids, it still can make users dependent on it.
Some users develop the habit of frequent use. They first build tolerance towards kratom and then take high doses to gain the desired results.
It leads an individual to a stage of dependence and becomes addicted to this drug.
This factor is especially worrying. Many people who use Kratom don’t want to go back to opioids. Kratom, in reality, may not be a good alternative to opioids. If one becomes dependent on Kratom, it can lead to withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms might compel some users to go back on Kratom even though there is no legitimate reason to do so.
Biochemical studies have revealed that kratom consists of many alkaloid components. Among which two are most prominent and responsible for opiate-like effects on users. These components are Mitragynine that makes up about 2% of the drug. The other is its derivative 7-hydroxy-mitragynine, which is about 0.02%.
These two active ingredients play the role of stimulating sedative feelings by binding to the opioid receptors located in the brain, leading to activation of the G-protein coupled receptor, and then the whole signaling cascade starts. It is the primary biochemical pathway provoking all the symptoms of drug consumption.
Kratom drug testing is emphasized when inevitable deaths occurred due to its over-consumption. A report released by the FDA in 2017 mentioned that 44 deaths were in relation to or was caused by Kratom.
For this reason, it has now become the need of the hour to devise tests that are specifically sensitive towards kratom detection.
How long does it take to feel the kratom effects?
Generally, about 10-12 minutes after having it, the person starts experiencing the effects. Symptoms become severe and reach their peak after about 1 to 1.5 hours of tucking in. These effects may last from 3 to 8 hours, depending upon the intake of dosage and the form of ingestion. An individual can immediately feel the impact of Mitragyna if they take it on an empty stomach.
Similarly, direct consumption in powder form provokes the symptoms too early. But, if in the form of a capsule, it has to pass through the digestive tract. Then, it takes some time to produce a sedative or stimulating effects.
Another relevant aspect is the quality of the kratom consumed. If the product is not of good quality, then the effects may take some time. If the product is of high-quality, then the results may be quick.
How long does kratom last in the body?
Half-life is a critical factor controlling the stability of the drug. It is the period required to cut 50% of the substance from the body. In the case of kratom herbal product, it takes a full day to eliminate from your body.
It is not absolute because of many contributing factors determining the lasting duration of kratom.
One factor is how frequently does an individual uses kratom. If one takes kratom regularly, then it might need a few days to leave the body. Another factor is doses. If taken at high doses, it may take more time to leave the body.
Age is also important. For older people, it might take some time to leave as compared to younger people. It is because younger people have a higher metabolism rate. Body fat percentage and genetics is another relevant factor.
Since not a lot of trials or research conducted on Kratom, the answer to this question is still not definitive and continuously debated. The usual answer is that it takes around 2 days to a week for Kratom to completely leave the body of the user.
What kind of tests used for kratom?
Since kratom is not detectable by using the standard 5-panel and 10-panel drug tests, these traditional drug tests are not adopted.
Therefore, various kratom tests are available for its detection. These include:
- Urine tests
It is considered the most successful type of drug testing. The reason is that the components are present in the urine of the user even 7 – 9 days. It can reveal relevant information even for those users who have consumed Kratom in small doses.
- Saliva tests
Compared to Urine tests, this test may not be that reliable. The reason being that it may not work on those users who had consumed Kratom a few days before the test. Even though it is extensively used, its success as a drug test is still debated.
- Blood tests
Like the Urine tests, this is one of the most reliable tests available. This type of test not only discloses the presence of Kratom, but it also shows how much once consume it (the dosage of Kratom consumed). However, there is one shortcoming of this test.
Kratom is only present in the blood flow of the user for a few days only. Hence, if the test is conducted late, then it might not share the necessary details.
- Hair tests
All the substances consumed by our body are bound to become part of hair follicles. Thus, detection is very obvious. This type of analysis has proven very useful in the case of many drug detection. They keep traces of substance for a more longer period and screening possible even after a few months.
However, it is not known how fruitful this type of test may be for Kratom users. But, it is a very reliable option in the coming years with improved research.
What principle lies behind detection?
Liquid Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) is the biochemical technique used in Kratom drug tests.
In this method, every component of Kratom first separated and ionized. It is then quantified by estimating their mass/charge ratio. This technique also takes into account the sensitivity and efficiency of Kratom. The relevant method has the advantage of sharing very specific details.
Do a variety of factors influence kratom drug testing?
- Age
Out of all considerations, age is the most visible factor during kratom detection. In old age consumers of kratom, there are more chances of kratom detection even after many days of having it.
The reason is apparent that they possess a slow metabolic rate, and it takes longer to cleanse up the drug thoroughly. Whereas in the case of young consumers, the whole scenario is the opposite, and they can get rid of drug kratom traces earlier.
- Genetic Influence
It is one of the contributing factors. Some genes are responsible for coding certain enzymes. Proteins play a decisive role in the detoxification of kratom and other drugs. Thus, such individuals metabolize drugs earlier than other individuals. It has only become possible due to the contributing inheritance factor.
- Fat deposits in the body
People who have a high percentage of fat deposits in their bodies, preserve product metabolites for a longer duration. The study has revealed that the biochemical nature of this drug renders it lipo-soluble.
Therefore, if more lipid content is present in the body, it is more likely to find the constituents of kratom in the body. While individuals with less body fat percentage can get rid of its metabolites quickly.
- Quality of food
Food type and quality matter a lot in this regard. If the food consumed is high in fat content, then kratom is more likely to be conserved by the body for a longer time. Similarly, less water intake will do the same as it will take longer to metabolize drug ingredients and expel them out of the body.
- Consumption of other drugs alongside kratom
If someone takes Kratom with some other drugs, then it is usually the case that it remains in the body for a longer. In the case of Kratom with alcohol, the body may feel the effects of the alcohol first. It may get rid of the alcohol remnants first, and then the Kratom remnants are dealt with later.
How much kratom do you take to fail a test?
For this, the cut-off value is considered crucial. It is the minimum amount of drug required to be present in a sample to get detected. Therefore, many experimental studies have revealed that the cut off value for an active constituent of kratom, i.e., Mitragynine, is observed to be 1 ng/ml approximately.
This value implies that a heavy user will require almost 5 days to flush out any kratom in the body. Trace quantities of metabolites may be detectable in urine for over a week so users can estimate how much time they will need to eliminate any trace of Speciosa Mitragyna in their body fluids.
In a blood test, an overdose of kratom would mean the concentration of mitragynine can be as high as 300ng/ml. Intoxication or presence of kratom at a simpler level will be around 100ng/ml or higher.
Mitragynine and metabolites may be detectable in the blood for 24 hours after consumption. Still, if you are a regular user, kratom metabolites will remain in your bloodstream for several days after ingestion.
Which form of kratom may change the drug test results?
The most common type of kratom products are capsules, kratom tea, powders, and extracts. Nowadays, gummies and tablets are also available at some shops.
If you wonder whether the form of Kratum products may play some role in a drug test, you may have a point!
Many use kratom extracts for vaping. This method implies that the alkaloid absorption in the bloodstream is through the lungs. Therefore, much more impactful.
If you have a drug test coming up, maybe you should give up smoking kratom extract two to three days before the test. Several people turned to kratom because they did not want to consume opioids that may show the presence of drugs in the blood or urine.
Kratom extracts are full-spectrum, which means that the alkaloids in the botanical extract are more and higher in quantity. Kratom extracts may result in the detection of alkaloids in the drug test.
What is the probability of getting false-positive results?
Most of the time, drug detection by testing urine samples. These Urine based tests are prevalent because of their efficient and accurate result possibility most of the time.
The false-positive outcome observed when the results show the presence of a drug in the body of a person, although an individual has not consumed.
It usually happens when the individual has taken certain medications or supplements before giving a sample for drug detection. In this case, any other metabolite is recognized by mistake as a particular drug, and the test is said to be positive.
In the case of kratom detecting, it is evident that unearthing of this drug is not by the conventional tests designed for other opioid drugs.
Therefore, many times, false-positive results come up if there is prior ingestion of any other medication or supplement. There is no need to worry in such a situation. Instead, it is worthy of telling your doctor about any medication you had taken.
Go for another confirmatory test, Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), that is specific for kratom detection in the body. In this way, authentication achieved regarding the presence or absence of kratom in your body.
The Doping Test and Kratom
If you are an athlete, the following may interest you much.
Kratom does not cause the conventional drug test to be positive! It is the simple bottom line of all the questions people ask on the Internet! The drug tests are designed to detect a specific range of chemicals in body fluids, and kratom alkaloids do not fall in that range of chemicals at all!
However, in 2015 the blood tests showed the presence of metabolites in athletes. This event took place at a popular sports competition due to an increase in kratom intake.
The German Sports University in Cologne said the test became a necessity since many athletes were using Mitragyna for recreational purposes. The anti-doping regulatory bodies compelled to study the alkaloids found in kratom. The male athletes were tested, but the surprising result was that the beneficial properties of kratom discovered!
Performance enhancement and analgesic benefits for sports injuries were the most prominent benefits for athletes, which found due to the doping test.
In the United States, there is limited research, but the doping test in Germany proved to be an informational event!
The United States Anti-Doping Association does not recommend the use of kratom as it may be dangerous if consumed in large quantities. Yet, several MMA fighters and boxers of the WWF use this substance to reduce pain and muscle soreness.
However, since kratom is legal in the United States, there is no harm in taking any doping test, so all athletes have absolutely nothing to worry about if they consume kratom before a test!
How to get kratom out of your system efficiently?
For this, there is an immense need to take measures as described in the following:
- The first step to be considered is to stop having more kratom. This habitual ingestion should be first reduced and then eventually eliminated to avoid any problem faced due to sudden withdrawal of this drug.
- The person is recommended to have much intake of water as it may help in the expulsion of kratom by increasing the metabolism and detoxification process.
- Avoiding the use of kratom in its most concentrated forms, such as extracts and tinctures, helps reducing its contents in your system.
- Improved quality of food proves helpful in this regard as citrus fruits, and fresh vegetables are verified eatables to detox the body and help in getting rid of the drug.
- If you have just tucked in kratom and it is not absorbed in your body, activated charcoal is helpful to remove it out of the system.
- The Reduction of body fat is also one of the effective ways to get this drug out of your body. For this, the recommendation is for regular exercise that will not only keep you healthy, improve your metabolic rate but also reduce your lipid content. All these advantages collectively contribute to the expulsion of kratom.
- Besides all these steps, as mentioned earlier to be taken, there are many medically approved detoxifying syrups available that are efficient and effective in the removal of it from the bloodstream.
Conclusion
Drug tests are a common practice for office jobs as well as athletes. Although kratom is not an illegal or scheduled drug; therefore, a drug test does not mean any harm to kratom users. However, some people fear false results due to kratom consumption.
The alkaloids and metabolites in the users’ blood do not create a false-positive result for drug tests. However, in case a user wants to avoid the detection of metabolites, they can discontinue using kratom for at least a week before the test to avoid any complication.
