Does Delta-8 Show Up on a Drug Test? Let’s Find Out!

Delta-8 is a great option in many states where traditional THC is illegal – you can even buy THC gummies online!

Derived from hemp, Delta 8 is legal under the 2018 Farm Bill which legalized the sale of hemp and its products nationwide. Many Delta-8 users say it gives them similar (but milder) effects, with less paranoia than Delta-9.

But will Delta-8 make you fail a drug test? Read on to find out!

Does Delta-8 Make You Fail a Drug Test?

So Delta-8 is a safe, reliable THC option. You may be interested in Delta-8 tinctures, vapes, or edibles. But will Delta-8 gummies show up on a drug test?

You may be taking Delta-8 because you live in a state where cannabis is illegal. This gives users a potentially state legal option for THC that is unavailable otherwise. But what about drug screenings for your job or probation? Will someone who is taking Delta-8 THC fail a drug test?

To find out, let’s first learn about how substance screenings work.

How Do Drug Tests Work?

There are several types of drug tests, but they all require some sort of sample taken from your body (such as blood, urine, hair, or saliva) and most of them screen for multiple substances.

Once you donate your sample, the lab analyzes it using either gas chromatography or immunoassay testing (more about these below) to scan for the residual metabolites that remain in your body once your liver metabolizes the substance.

So substance screenings don’t necessarily screen for the substance itself, but for the remaining metabolites left in your blood, urine, saliva, sweat, hair, and lungs.

If you have used THC, the metabolite that lingers in your body long after the effects wear off is called THC-COOH.

If THC-COOH is detected by the drug screening, it is known that you have consumed THC sometime in the recent past (within the last several weeks). 

Drug screenings cannot determine when a substance was taken or how much. They cannot determine if you smoked cannabis, or ate edibles. They can only detect the presence of THC-COOH in your sample. If the metabolite is present, the test will come back positive.

What Substances do Drug Tests Look For?

Most common substance screenings flag metabolites for the following substances:

• Alcohol
• Amphetamines (including meth)
• Barbituates
• Benzodiazapenes
• Cocaine
• Marijuana (THC)
• Opioids and Opiates (heroin, codeine, oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone, & fentanyl)
• Phencycladine (PCP)
• Steroids 

Different Types of Drug Tests

There are two main types of drug tests that substance screening labs use.

The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Test (GC-MS)

The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry test is the most accurate drug testing method, since it uses two different processes to detect the presence of substance metabolites. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry are both methods which separate and quantify the chemicals in any substance.

Because this is a multi-step test, it takes more time and precision to achieve its highly accurate results.

The Immunoassay Test (IA)

The immunoassay test is a simple biochemical test which flags macromolecules of particular substances. This is a much quicker method, but its results are less reliable.

Will Delta-8 Show Positive for THC?

You may have noticed that Delta-8 does not appear on the list of screened substances. So does Delta-8 show up on drug tests?

While there is no specific Delta-8 drug test, any test that is designed to detect THC will detect Delta-8 because Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC (the THC naturally found in cannabis) are chemically identical. 

Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC molecules both contain 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. The atoms in Delta-8 are simply arranged in a slightly different way. This change may make the Delta-8 THC experience more mild, but it does not decrease its detectability.

Can Delta-8 Show Up in Blood Test?

Yes, a Delta-8 THC drug test is detectable by blood. 

Does Delta-8 THC Show Up in Urine?

Bluntly, does Delta-8 show up in a pee test? The answer is the same - yes.

Does Delta-8 Show Up on a Drug Test by Saliva?

What if your employer uses a saliva test? Can you fail a drug test for Delta-8 then? Yes, you can.

How to Pass a Drug Test

So will Delta-8 make you fail a drug test? Unfortunately, it can. Fat-soluble THC, whether naturally-occurring or hemp-derived, can stay in your system for several weeks. So if you know that you have a substance screening coming up, it is smart to abstain from any type of THC for a couple months beforehand to be safe.

Don’t have that kind of time? Because THC-COOH is a metabolite of THC, anything you can do to increase your metabolism in order to flush it out of your system will help. This includes drinking LOTS of water, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep.

If you do not need to worry about passing a substance screening, and want to reap the benefits of THC, PharmaCBD has the highest quality Delta-8 on the market! Whether you’re looking for a Delta-8 gummy, infused flower, tincture, or vape, we are here to help. Shop now!