Ulta Lab Tests

All Drug and Alcohol Tests

This page brings together all drug and alcohol testing options so you can match the right test window to your testing goal—whether that’s immediate status, recent use, long-term pattern, adherence, or abstinence. A proactive plan uses a screen-then-confirm approach: fast immunoassay screens for broad classes, followed by definitive confirmation with LC-MS/MS or GC-MS when results are non-negative or policy requires it.

Choose the specimen matrix that fits your need: blood (now), oral fluid (very recent), urine (recent/clearance), or hair(weeks–months pattern). Alcohol-specific biomarkers (e.g., BAC, EtG/EtS, PEth, CDT) and supportive liver markers add context. Lab results help document use, adherence, and trends; they do not prove impairment, intent, exact dose, or exact timing. Always interpret with a qualified professional and follow your program’s policy.

Signs, Situations & Related Needs

  • Workplace & safety: pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-incident, return-to-duty

  • Clinical care: pain-management adherence, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), unexpected behaviors, potential interactions

  • Treatment & recovery: abstinence documentation, relapse monitoring, counseling support

  • Legal/compliance: court or custody orders, probation requirements, monitoring agreements

  • When to seek urgent care: suspected overdose, severe sedation, chest pain, suicidal ideation, or signs of alcohol poisoning (confusion, vomiting, slow/irregular breathing)
    All testing should be reviewed by a clinician, Medical Review Officer (MRO), or program administrator.

Why These Tests Matter

What testing can do

  • Verify presence or absence of target substances and confirm specific drugs/metabolites

  • Distinguish adherence vs. non-adherence and identify undisclosed use

  • Provide objective trends to guide frequency of visits, counseling, or program steps

What testing cannot do

  • Prove impairment, exact dose, or time since use

  • Replace clinical judgment, chain-of-custody, or policy requirements

  • Explain motive or context without additional information

What These Tests Measure (at a glance)

Alcohol

  • BAC (blood alcohol concentration): alcohol now; hours-long window. Use: fitness/incident assessments. Caveat:declines rapidly—timing is critical.

  • Urine Ethanol: very short window (hours). Use: very recent consumption.

  • Urine EtG/EtS (ethyl glucuronide/sulfate): detects recent use after alcohol clears (typically 1–3 days, longer with heavy use). Caveat: low positives can follow incidental exposure; labs use cutoffs.

  • PEth (phosphatidylethanol, whole blood): repeated/significant drinking over ~2–4 weeks. Use: pattern/relapse monitoring.

  • CDT (carbohydrate-deficient transferrin): supports sustained heavy use (weeks).

  • GGT, AST/ALT, MCV: indirect, not specific—clinical context only.

Drugs of Abuse / Controlled Medications

  • Opioids & semisynthetics: morphine, codeine, 6-MAM (heroin), hydrocodone/hydromorphone, oxycodone/oxymorphone, fentanyl/norfentanyl, methadone/EDDP, buprenorphine/norbuprenorphine.
    Use: adherence in pain/MAT; undisclosed opioid exposure; metabolite patterns verify biotransformation.*

  • Stimulants: amphetamine/methamphetamine (± D/L isomer), MDMA/MDA, methylphenidate metabolites.
    Use: clarify screen cross-reactivity; confirm specific stimulant.*

  • Cocaine: benzoylecgonine (definitive exposure).

  • Cannabinoids: THC-COOH (urine), parent THC (blood/oral fluid).
    Use: matrix determines “recent vs residual” context.*

  • Benzodiazepines: alprazolam/α-hydroxyalprazolam, clonazepam/7-aminoclonazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, temazepam.
    Note: many are glucuronidated—best detected by LC-MS/MS.*

  • Other classes as ordered: barbiturates, PCP, synthetic opioids/novel psychoactives.

Specimen Validity (Urine)

  • Creatinine, specific gravity, pH, oxidants/nitrites to detect dilution, substitution, or adulteration.

Typical Detection Windows (approximate; depend on dose, frequency, matrix, and cutoff)

  • Blood: hours to ~1 day (current presence)

  • Oral fluid: hours to ~1–2 days (very recent)

  • Urine: ~1–3 days for many drugs; longer for THC with frequent use

  • Hair: weeks–months (long-term pattern; not impairment)

How the Testing Process Works

  1. Define goal & window: “now” (blood/oral fluid), “recent” (urine/oral fluid), or “pattern” (hair; PEth for alcohol).

  2. Select matrix & panel: choose urine/oral fluid/blood/hair and drug classes per policy.

  3. Screen, then confirm: immunoassay screen first; LC-MS/MS or GC-MS confirmation for non-negative or policy-directed classes.

  4. Add validity (urine): creatinine, specific gravity, pH, oxidants to assess dilution/adulteration.

  5. Report & review: secure results list analytes, metabolites, levels (and validity metrics). Compare with medication list, timing, and program rules.

  6. Trend over time: repeat on a set schedule to document abstinence, adherence, or change.

Interpreting Results (General Guidance)

  • Confirmed positive: analyte(s) at/above cutoff—review metabolite profile (e.g., norfentanyl for fentanyl, 6-MAMfor heroin) and prescriptions.

  • Negative/below cutoff: not detected or under threshold—does not exclude use outside the window.

  • Alcohol markers: BAC = current alcohol; EtG/EtS = recent exposure; PEth/CDT = repeated/heavy use; liver enzymes are supportive, not specific.

  • Matrix matters: oral fluid/blood indicate recent use; urine shows clearance; hair shows long-term pattern.
    Always interpret with clinical findings, timing, and policy.

Choosing Panels vs. Individual Tests

  • Abstinence/recovery: EtG/EtS for recent alcohol; PEth (and/or CDT) for patterns; multi-drug panels with confirmation as needed.

  • Workplace/safety programs: standard multi-drug screens with confirmation and chain-of-custody; include urine specimen validity.

  • Pain management/MAT: targeted opioid ± benzodiazepine panels with key metabolites (EDDP, norbuprenorphine).

  • Long-term pattern review: hair panels; pair with periodic urine/oral fluid for near-term checks.

  • Unexpected screen results: expand to definitive LC-MS/MS confirmation; consider isomer testing for amphetamines.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a screen and a confirmation test?
A screen is a quick yes/no immunoassay; confirmation uses mass spectrometry to precisely identify and quantify drugs/metabolites.

Does a positive result prove impairment?
No. It shows presence above a cutoff, not impairment or exact timing.

Which specimen should I choose?
Match the window to the goal: blood (now), oral fluid (recent), urine (recent/clearance), hair (weeks–months).

Can prescriptions cause a positive screen?
Yes. That’s why confirmation distinguishes cross-reactivity from true positives.

How do I check alcohol over weeks, not hours?
Use PEth for repeated/heavy use patterns; EtG/EtS detects recent use after alcohol has cleared.

How do I detect nicotine use?
Cotinine is the primary marker; some programs add anabasine to help distinguish tobacco from nicotine replacement.

Internal Links & Cross-References

  • Drug & Alcohol Tests Hub

  • Alcohol

  • Drug Monitoring

  • Drug Confirmation Test

  • Drug Toxicology Monitoring

  • Nicotine & Tobacco

  • Pain Management

  • KEY LAB TESTS: BAC • EtG/EtS • PEth • CDT • Multi-Drug Screen (Urine/Oral Fluid) • LC-MS/MS Drug Confirmation • Hair Drug Panel • Cotinine • Specimen Validity Panel

References

  1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Drug and alcohol testing guidance and cutoffs.

  2. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Drug and alcohol testing program regulations.

  3. American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Appropriate use of drug testing in clinical addiction medicine.

  4. American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). Definitive toxicology testing best practices (LC/GC-MS).

  5. College of American Pathologists (CAP). Toxicology standards and chain-of-custody considerations.

  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alcohol and tobacco biomarkers—public health considerations.

  7. World Health Organization (WHO). Screening and laboratory testing principles for alcohol and drug use.

  8. ARUP Consult/clinical toxicology compendia. Detection windows, metabolite interpretation, and specimen validity.

Available Tests & Panels

Your All Drug & Alcohol Tests menu is pre-populated in the Ulta Lab Tests system. Use filters by goal and window: choose BAC for immediate status, EtG/EtS for recent alcohol use, PEth/CDT for patterns, and multi-drug screens with LC/GC-MS confirmation for definitive results. Include specimen validity for urine when needed, and review all results with your clinician, MRO, or program administrator.

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 The 10 Panel Drug Test serves as a comprehensive tool to screen for the presence of a wide range of drugs or their metabolites in an individual's urine. By testing for these specific markers, the panel can identify whether a person has consumed certain substances within a period of time leading up to the test. The substances covered range from illicit drugs to certain prescription medications, making it versatile in its applications.
Urine
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 The 10 Panel Drug Test with Confirmation is a comprehensive drug screening tool specifically designed not only to detect the presence of various drugs or their metabolites in urine but also to verify those results with a secondary, more specific test, ensuring accuracy. This two-tiered approach first identifies potential drug markers and then confirms them, providing a robust and reliable analysis.
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The Acetaminophen Test measures the level of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in the blood to evaluate potential overdose, toxicity, or therapeutic monitoring. It helps clinicians assess liver function, determine the extent of drug exposure, and guide timely treatment decisions in cases of suspected acetaminophen poisoning or impaired medication clearance.

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The Acetone Blood Test measures acetone, a type of ketone produced during fat metabolism. Elevated levels may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, uncontrolled diabetes, starvation, or metabolic disorders. This test supports evaluation of unexplained acidosis, altered mental status, or symptoms such as nausea and rapid breathing, providing insight into metabolic balance and monitoring of critical illness or diabetes management.

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The Alcohol Urine Drug Screen with Confirmation detects and confirms the presence of ethyl glucuronide (EtG), a direct metabolite of alcohol, in urine samples. This test is designed to identify recent alcohol use and verify initial screening results with confirmatory analysis, providing reliable and accurate information for monitoring purposes in clinical, legal, and treatment settings.

Urine
Urine Collection
Also Known As: Drug Monitoring Alcohol Metabolite Screen with Confirmation Urine
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The Alcohol Urine Drug Test quantitatively measures ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) levels in urine to assess recent alcohol intake. This precise quantitative analysis enables clinicians and monitoring programs to track consumption patterns over time, distinguish between trace exposure and significant use, and support reliable alcohol monitoring in clinical, treatment, or legal settings.

Urine
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Also Known As: Drug Monitoring Alcohol Metabolite Quantitative Urine Test
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Blood
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The Amiodarone Test measures blood levels of amiodarone, an antiarrhythmic medication used to manage atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and other rhythm disorders. Monitoring helps ensure therapeutic levels while avoiding toxicity, as amiodarone can affect the thyroid, liver, lungs, and eyes. This test supports safe management, guiding adjustments in therapy and reducing risk of drug-related complications.

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Also Known As: Amphetamines Quantitative Serum Test
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The Amphetamines Urine Drug Screen detects the presence of amphetamine and related compounds in urine above defined cutoff levels. This screening test provides an initial assessment of recent amphetamine use and is commonly applied in workplace, treatment, and clinical monitoring contexts. Results indicate detection at or above threshold limits but are not confirmed by additional testing.

Urine
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Also Known As: Drug Monitoring Amphetamines Screen Urine
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The Amphetamines Urine Drug Screen with Confirmation combines initial screening and confirmatory testing to detect and verify the presence of amphetamines in urine. This method delivers both sensitivity and specificity, ensuring positive results are validated. Ideal for clinical, legal, or monitoring settings, it supports reliable reporting of amphetamine use.

Urine
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Also Known As: Drug Monitoring Amphetamines Screen with Confirmation Urine
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The Amphetamines Urine Drug Screen with Confirmation and D/L Isomers first screens for amphetamine compounds, then applies confirmatory testing that distinguishes D- and L-methamphetamine isomers. This test combines detection, verification, and isomer differentiation to offer more precise insight in clinical, legal, or monitoring settings.

Urine
Urine Collection
Also Known As: Drug Monitoring Amphetamines Screen with Confirmation and D/L Urine
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The Amphetamines Urine Drug Test quantitatively measures the concentration of amphetamine and methamphetamine in urine using advanced laboratory methods. This quantitative analysis provides precise levels to support clinical monitoring, treatment programs, or medical evaluation. It offers more information than a basic screen by showing how much of these compounds are present.

Urine
Urine Collection
Also Known As: Drug Monitoring Amphetamines Quantitative Urine Test
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The Amphetamines Urine Drug Test with D/L Isomers quantitatively measures levels of amphetamine and methamphetamine in urine while distinguishing D- and L-isomer forms. This enhanced test provides detailed insight into stereoisomer composition, supporting clinical or forensic monitoring with greater specificity and clarity in amphetamine use assessment.

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Also Known As: Drug Monitoring Amphetamines with D/L Quantitative Urine Test
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 The Antidepressants Panel 1 test is a laboratory assay designed to detect and measure the concentration of specific antidepressant medications in a patient's serum or plasma. This helps in assessing medication adherence, verifying therapeutic levels, or detecting potential drug interactions.
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The Barbiturates Urine Drug Screen detects the presence of barbiturate compounds in urine above established cutoff levels, using immunoassay methodology. This screening test is used in clinical, treatment, and monitoring settings to identify barbiturate use. A positive result indicates detection but does not include confirmatory testing, so results should be interpreted in context.

Urine
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Also Known As: Drug Monitoring Barbiturates Screen Urine
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