There’s much confusion around how CBD and its sister compound, THC, affect drug tests. The cannabis plant has many medical, and even more psychoactive constituents, and how they function together is only starting to become properly understood by modern science.
However, the question on most people’s minds is much simpler: does CBD show up on a drug test? Does CBD oil appear on a drug test when applied topically on the skin?
As a drug testing specialist, ARCpoint Labs is here to clarify the misunderstandings surrounding these compounds and to what extent CBD might appear on a drug screening.
How Drug Tests for Cannabis Work
Cannabis drug tests, especially for courts and businesses, are usually designed to measure THC, not CBD. These two main cannabis compounds bind with different brain and body receptors, with THC mostly attaching to cannabinoid receptors in the brain (CB1) and immune system (CB2).
CBD, interestingly does not even bind directly with cannabinoid receptors, affecting the cannabinoid system indirectly via a different biochemical pathway. Some drug tests are designed to test for CBD. Still, employees or wards of the court are typically unaware of the nature of the test being administered, especially during random testing.
The crux of the matter is that many CBD products contain trace amounts of THC, which can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer and method used during extraction.
What Level of THC Leads to a Positive Result on a Drug Test?
Most THC tests show a positive result when 50 nanograms per milliliter is detected in urine. This threshold is important for being as reasonably certain as possible that the body’s natural endocannabinoids, including CBD and an almost exact replica of THC, do not trigger a false positive.
If a product containing THC is at 0.3% or less content, false positives should not occur, but due to metabolic and other biological differences between people, that’s not a perfect rule. So does CBD show up on a drug test? It depends.
Can CBD Use Lead to a Positive Result on a Drug Test?
As legal controls on CBD products limit THC content to less than 0.3%, whether CBD or CBD oil does show up on a drug test is not always 100% certain. Thus, it’s always possible for 0.3% THC content to trigger a lower court or employment drug test, depending on the individual.
When wondering if CBD does show up on a THC drug test, first consider which type of CBD product is in question.
Does the Type of CBD Matter?
Products containing broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate are formulated with absolutely no THC. These products may be a safer bet for those afraid that, at least potentially, even medicinal CBD products can appear on a drug test for THC. This is true when CBD is taken internally or topically (although the latter will require relatively more product).
How to Make Sure a CBD Product Doesn’t Contain THC
Look for products labeled "CBD isolate" to be sure you can reap the medicinal benefits of cannabis to your heart’s content. "Broad spectrum" products usually have the THC removed, but this is not a perfect sign of a fully THC-free medicinal product. The most thorough way to ensure you won’t trigger a drug test is to select CBD products from manufacturers who lab test their products and guarantee full 0.0% THC content.
Products labeled "full spectrum," even the extracts, may contain up to 0.3% THC, at which tests may start to detect it. Unless your product comes with a trusted lab test certification, the product can contain slightly more than 0.3% THC, as mistakes happen.
Effective & Reliable Drug Testing in Santa Fe Springs
The ARCPoint labs Santa Fe Springs franchise is a leader in drug and medical testing services, including for the transportation and legal industries. We provide comprehensive sample-collection services for our certified partner labs, medical testing, and more. Don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule an appointment or inquire about our walk-in services.