John Miller
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are fungi that contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin. When ingested, these compounds can cause hallucinations and profound changes in perception, mood, and consciousness. While magic mushrooms are illegal in many places, some jurisdictions have decriminalized or legalized their use. As such, testing for mushroom use has become an important topic. Standard drug tests, such as those used for employment screening, typically do not test for psilocybin or psilocin. However, specialized tests, such as liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS), can detect these compounds in urine, saliva, blood, hair follicles, and even fingernails. The detection window varies depending on the testing method and the individual's metabolism, typically ranging from a few hours to several days in urine tests, up to 12 hours in blood tests, and up to 90 days in hair tests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Standard drug tests | Do not test for mushrooms |
| Standard drug test substances | THC, cocaine, PCP, amphetamines, opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, MDMA (ecstasy) |
| Specialized tests | Test for mushrooms |
| Specialized test substances | Psilocybin, psilocin |
| Specialized test types | Urine, saliva, blood, hair follicles, fingernails |
| Urine test detection window | Up to 24 hours |
| Saliva test detection window | Up to 24 hours |
| Blood test detection window | Up to 12 hours |
| Hair test detection window | Up to 90 days |
| Fingernail test detection window | Up to 6 months |
| Factors influencing detection window | Body type, metabolism, use, test type |
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What You'll Learn
Standard drug tests don't test for mushrooms
Mushrooms contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin. When consumed, these compounds can produce profound changes in perception, mood, and consciousness. They can also lead to hallucinations, panic attacks, psychotic-like episodes, and even death. Despite this, psilocybin and psilocin are not included in standard drug tests. This is due to the less frequent use of mushrooms compared to other substances and the cost of specialized testing.
Specialized tests can detect psilocybin and psilocin in urine, saliva, blood, or hair follicles. However, these tests are often costly and not routinely administered. Urine tests are the most common type of drug test and can detect psilocybin and psilocin within 1 to 3 days after use. Blood tests detect these compounds for up to 24 hours, while hair tests can detect drug use for up to three months. Saliva tests can detect psilocybin and psilocin for up to 24 hours after use, and they can even detect psilocin as soon as 30 minutes after ingestion.
The window of detection for psilocybin and psilocin is relatively short compared to other substances because the body rapidly metabolizes and eliminates them. Most of the compounds are eliminated within 24 hours of consumption. This means that the timing of the test is crucial in detecting mushroom use.
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Specialised tests can detect psilocybin
Standard drug tests do not typically test for psilocybin or its metabolite, psilocin. However, specialised tests can detect psilocybin in various bodily fluids and tissues, including urine, saliva, blood, hair, and fingernail samples.
One such specialised test is the NARK Psilocybin/Psilocin Reagent, which is designed to presumptively identify psilocybin and presumptively identify psilocin. The test uses a unique, easy-to-handle system of disposable tubettes and is meant for presumptive field drug testing. This test is only available for sale to law enforcement, and all results must be confirmed by an approved analytical laboratory.
Another method for detecting psilocybin is Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS or LC/MS-MS). This technique combines liquid chromatography, which separates the components of a mixture, with mass spectrometry, which provides information about the molecular structure of the compounds. LC-MS/MS is a powerful analytical technique that allows for high sensitivity and specificity in identifying and quantifying psilocybin and related compounds. This method is often used in laboratories to confirm the results obtained from other techniques, such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
HPLC is a preferred method for its high sensitivity and accuracy in separating the compounds present in mushroom extract, allowing for the accurate quantification of psilocybin and psilocin. GC-MS is often used to confirm HPLC results, providing a high level of accuracy in identifying and quantifying psychoactive compounds. Other techniques such as Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) and Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) are also used for psilocybin analysis, with UPLC providing faster results and TLC being a simpler and more cost-effective method for preliminary analysis.
In addition to these techniques, proper sample preparation techniques, such as extraction and purification, are necessary to ensure accurate and reliable results. ELISA kits, which utilise antibodies specific to psilocybin or its metabolites, are also commercially available for psilocybin analysis. NMR spectroscopy is another powerful technique that can identify and quantify psilocybin by analyzing the characteristic peaks and patterns in the NMR spectra, but it may require specialised equipment and expertise.
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Detection times vary by test type
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, do not show up on standard drug tests. These tests typically screen for common substances like THC, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, and PCP. However, specialised tests can detect psilocybin and its metabolite, psilocin. The detection time varies depending on the type of test being used.
Urine tests are the most common type of drug test and can detect psilocybin for about 24 hours after use. Some sources say that psilocybin can be detected in urine for up to three days, depending on individual factors such as body weight, metabolism, and frequency of mushroom use. It takes over six hours for psilocin to become present in urine samples, and after 24 hours, it is no longer detectable.
Blood tests have a shorter detection window, usually only a few hours to up to 12 hours after consumption. Saliva tests can detect psilocybin for up to 24 hours and can detect psilocin as soon as 30 minutes after ingestion.
Hair tests are less common but can detect drug use for up to three months. Fingernail tests can also detect psilocybin for up to six months, as metabolites embed in the nail keratin during growth.
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False positives for psilocybin are rare but possible
Standard drug tests do not screen for psilocybin or its metabolite, psilocin. These tests typically focus on more commonly abused substances like THC, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP. Therefore, it is unlikely that mushroom coffee or non-psychoactive mushroom products will trigger a positive result for psilocybin on a standard drug test.
However, false positives for psilocybin are possible, particularly with less specific tests due to potential cross-reactivity with other substances. For example, ergot alkaloids, which are naturally occurring compounds found in rye ergot fungus, can cause false positives due to their structural similarity to psilocybin. LSD can also cross-react with some psilocybin tests, especially if it has been recently consumed. Additionally, certain medications, like some antibiotics or antidepressants, can interfere with the test and cause a false positive. Consuming poppy seeds in large amounts can also rarely trigger a false positive for psilocybin due to trace amounts of morphine-like alkaloids present in the seeds.
To reduce the risk of a false positive, confirm that secondary confirmatory testing, such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or high-performance liquid chromatography, is performed on any positive result. GC-MS is a very specific test to identify separate compounds within a sample and is considered the "gold standard" for drug testing.
If you are concerned about potential workplace drug testing, it is important to review your employer's drug testing policy and seek legal guidance if necessary. The most reliable way to ensure that psilocybin does not show up in a drug test is through complete abstinence for a sufficient period before the test.
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Hair tests are the most effective detection method
Standard drug tests do not test for psilocybin mushrooms. These tests usually screen common substances like THC, cocaine, PCP, amphetamines, and opioids. However, hair tests are the most effective detection method for psilocybin mushrooms.
Hair sample drug tests can detect recent and ongoing magic mushroom misuse. While it might take up to 2-3 weeks for the metabolites to reach the keratin fibres of the hair, the detection window is as long as the hair sample. Each 1 cm of hair represents one month of drug misuse. If psilocybin is detectable in 3 cm of hair, it can be assumed that consumption was ongoing for 3 months.
Hair tests are more effective than urine tests, which are the most common type of drug test. Urine tests can detect psilocybin usually within 1 to 3 days after use. However, it can take over 6 hours for the metabolite psilocin to become present in urine samples, and after 24 hours, the compounds are no longer detectable.
Hair tests are also more effective than blood tests, which detect psilocybin for up to 24 hours. Blood tests are not commonly used to detect shrooms because they provide a shorter window of detection.
While standard hair tests rarely screen for psilocybin, specialized methods like Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) can detect it if specifically targeted. Initial testing with authentic hair samples has shown inconsistent results, but advanced techniques confirm its detectability.
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Frequently asked questions
Testing for mushroom abuse depends on the type of test being administered. Standard drug tests do not test for mushrooms. Specialized panels can detect psilocybin in urine, saliva, blood, hair, or fingernail samples.
The detection window depends on the testing method and individual factors such as body type, metabolism, and use. Mushrooms can be detected in urine tests for 1 to 3 days, in blood tests for up to 24 hours, in saliva tests for up to 24 hours, in hair tests for up to 3 months, and in fingernail tests for up to 6 months.
Failing a drug test for mushrooms can have legal and health implications. In terms of legal consequences, the possession, cultivation, and distribution of magic mushrooms are illegal under federal law in the United States, with potential penalties including imprisonment, fines, or both. From a health perspective, regular use of magic mushrooms can lead to psychological dependence and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
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