Recommended Cut-Offs for Substances and Metabolites in Hair to Identify Use

Source: Society of Hair Testing
Drug Class Initial
Cutoff Level (ng/mg)
Confirm
Target Analyte
Confirm Cutoff Level (ng/mg)
Amphetamines       0.2  Amphetamine       0.2
 Methamphetamine       0.2
 MDMA       0.2
Buprenorphine       0.01  Buprenorphine       0.01
 Norbuprenorphine       0.01
Cannibinoids-(marijuana)       0.1  THC       0.005
 THC-COOH       0.0002
Cocaine       0.5  Cocaine       0.5
 BZE, EME, CE, NC       0.05
Methadone       0.2  Methadone       0.2
 EDDP       0.05
Opiates       0.2  Morphine       0.2
 Codeine       0.2
 6-acetylmorphine       0.2

NOTES:
6-acetylmorphine = heroin
BZE = benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine (3-Benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-4-carboxylic acid)
CE = cocaethylene, a cocaine metabolite formed only in the presence of ethanol, aka 'alcohol' (ethyl (2R,3S)-3-benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate)
EME = ecgonine methyl ester, a more minor metabolite of cocaine
EDDP = an inactive metabolite of methadone (2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine)
MDMA = Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine)
NC = norcocaine, a minor metabolite of cocaine (methyl (1R,2R,3S,5S)-3-(benzoyloxy)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate)
THC = tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis/marijuana (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)
THC-COOH = the main secondary metabolite of THC (11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)