Caffeine
Drug Testing
SUMMARY #
U.S. DRUG TESTING SUMMARY | |
Caffeine | |
Tested for in Standard Drug Tests? | NO |
Tested for in Extended Drug Tests? | NO |
Possible to Test for? | YES |
Detection Period in Urine | Unknown (2-3 days?) |
TEST TYPES #
Urine Testing
Caffeine is not specifically tested for in most drug tests. Because it is not illegal, there is not much concern about the possibility that companies may specifically test for it.
Athletic Testing: Some athletic associations set limits for caffeine levels in urine. The International Olympic Committee sets limits at 12 µg/mL, which might be reached by consuming about 8 cups of coffee(1). In the United States, the National Collegiate Athletic Association limits caffeine levels to 15 µg/mL(2).
Athletic Testing: Some athletic associations set limits for caffeine levels in urine. The International Olympic Committee sets limits at 12 µg/mL, which might be reached by consuming about 8 cups of coffee(1). In the United States, the National Collegiate Athletic Association limits caffeine levels to 15 µg/mL(2).
FALSE POSITIVES #
Substances or Conditions which can cause false positives
Caffeine is not believed to cause false positives for other substances. Contamination of urine specimens has led to a false positive for high caffeine levels in at least one instance(3).
CAUTION & DISCLAIMER #
Erowid's drug testing information is a summary of data gathered from site visitors, journal articles, websites, and other resources. Detection periods depend on amount and frequency of use, metabolic rate, body mass, age, overall health, drug tolerance, and urine pH of each individual. Many substances that are not tested for in basic or extended urinalysis tests CAN be tested for by a laboratory willing to go to the trouble, although that is uncommon.
RELATED RESOURCES #
RELATED LINKS #
References #
- Jenky. "Caffeine and the athlete", SportsMedWeb.
- NCAA. "NCAA List of Banned-Drugs: 2008-09". NCAA.org. 2009.
- Van Acker JT. "Falsely Increased Urinary Caffeine Attributable to Contamination by Urine Test Strips". Clinical Chemistry. Aug 1999;45(8 Pt 1):1315-7.