The Marijuana Detection Window - National Drug Court Institute

11.Research data indicates that in the terminalphase of cannabinoid elimination, subjects canproduce urine samples with levels below thecutoff concentration (negative results), followedsubsequently by samples with levels slightlyabove the cutoff (positive results) (Huestis, 2002).This fluctuation between positive and negativedid not occur in all subjects and in those thatdid exhibit this pattern, the fluctuation wasgenerally transitory. Based on this eliminationpattern, it is recommended that programsusing a cannabinoid cutoff of 50 ng/mL allowan interval of at least three days between thetwo negative result samples to establish theabstinence baseline. It is further recommendedthat programs using the 20 ng/mL cannabinoidcutoff allow an interval of at least five daysbetween the two negative result samples toestablish the abstinence baseline. If a program’stesting frequency is greater than every five days(using the 20 ng/mL cutoff), a total of three ormore negative tests may be required beforethe five-day interval is achieved.PublisherC. West Huddleston, IIIDirector, National Drug Court InstituteNational Drug Court Institute4900 Seminary Road, Suite 320Alexandria, VA 22311703.575.9400 ext. 13703.575.9402 faxwhuddleston@ndci.orgFACT SHEET QUIZ:WHAT DID YOU LEARN?Test your new knowledge. Answerthese true and false questions basedon the Fact Sheet text.TTTTTFFFFF1. The “detection window” meansthe length of time a drug willremain in someone’s system.2. The choice of testing cutoffhas a profound effect on thecannabinoid detection window.3. Despite changes in testingmethodologies, detection timesof cannabinoid metabolites inurine monitored by immunoassayhave remained the sameover the past two decades.4. Chronic users of marijuanacommonly produce a positiveurine drug test result 30 daysafter the last smoking episode.5. Any positive drug test resultfollowing two successivenegative urine drug testsseveral days apart indicatesnew or recent drug exposure.TF6. Since marijuana has such aprolonged elimination period,temporarily suspending drugtesting of a client who testspositive for marijuana is agood money-saving strategy.Answers: 1. False; 2. True; 3. False; 4. False; 5. True; 6. FalseNATIONALDRUG COURTINSTITUTE4900 Seminary Road, Suite 320Alexandria, VA 22311(703) 575-94001-877-507-3229(703) 575-9402 Faxwww.ndci.org