Opioid Testing

Opioid testing looks for opioids in a sample of your urine (pee), blood, saliva (spit), hair, or sweat. Opioids include powerful medicines that health care providers may prescribe to relieve pain from serious injuries, illnesses, or surgery. Opioids also include illegal drugs, such as heroin.

The terms 'opioids' and 'opiates' are often used to mean the same thing, but they're slightly different. Opioids include: Opiates, which are natural opioids made from the opium poppy plant. Opiates include the medicines codeine and morphine, and the illegal drug heroin.; Synthetic and semi-synthetic opioids, which are medicines made in labs, including: Oxycodone.; Hydrocodone.; Hydromorphone.; Oxymorphone.; Methadone.; Fentanyl.; ; Prescription opioids are relatively safe for reducing pain if you take them for a short time according to your provider's instructions.

But opioids can increase feelings of pleasure and well-being in some people. For these reasons, misuse of prescription opioids is common. Prescription opioid misuse means taking the medicine in a different way or for a different purpose than your provider prescribed.

It includes: Taking more than your prescribed dose or taking it more often.; Getting and using prescription pills from friends or family members, even if you're using the pills for a medical condition.; Taking prescription drugs to get high.; Mixing prescription opioids with alcohol or other drugs.; Opioid misuse is dangerous because opioids are highly addictive. Misusing them can lead to opioid use disorder (OUD), which is sometimes called opioid addiction. OUD can cause difficulties with work, school, and homelife.

It can even lead to overdose and death. Opioid testing can't diagnose opioid misuse or OUD. But it can be used with questionnaires called drug use screening tests to help find out who may need help with a drug problem.

Why this test is done

Your provider may order opioid testing if you're taking prescription opioids to treat:

• Chronic pain.
• Post-surgical pain.
• A persistent cough.
• Severe pain due to trauma.
• Cancer-related pain.

Certain tests can tell if you are taking more medicine than prescribed, which can be a sign of misuse or addiction.

Your provider may also order opioid testing if you have other signs or symptoms of opioid misuse or addiction, which may include:

• Calling early for refills or asking for higher doses.
• Complaining of increasing pain even though your condition isn't getting worse.
• Showing signs of opioid use when you don't have a prescription for opioid medicines. Some common signs of opioid use include:
• Constricted (abnormally small) pupils.
• Trouble staying awake or falling asleep at inappropriate times.
• Flushed, itchy skin.
• Personality changes.
• Social withdrawal.
• Neglecting responsibilities.
• Having withdrawal symptoms when not taking opioids, which may include:
• Frequent yawning.
• Wide open pupils (the openings that let light into your eyes).
• Uncontrollable leg movements.
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• Nausea and vomiting.

In a hospital emergency room, a provider may order opioid testing if you have signs of a possible drug overdose, such as slow shallow breathing and very low blood pressure.

You may also be asked to take a drug test, which includes testing for opioids, for a job, to participate in certain organized sports, or as part of a police investigation or court case.

How to prepare

Be sure to tell the testing professional or your provider if you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Some of these medicines may show up as opioids on your test results. Poppy seeds can also show up as opioids.

So, you should avoid foods with poppy seeds for at least three days before your test.

Sample type

Blood Urine Saliva

Other names for this test

opioid screening, opiate screening, opiate testing