It is possible, but in most situations, it’s improbable to fail a drug test when it’s only from secondhand smoke. Can THC get in your system from secondhand smoke? The truth is that it depends on how much exposure, how well the space is ventilated, and how sensitive the test is. This blog explains exactly when secondhand smoke may be an actual concern for drug testing, what tests are most sensitive to trace THC, and how long it takes a person to have an actual test result after they are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Does secondhand smoke affect your drug test?
With extreme, enclosed exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke, a drug test may be positive for a non-smoker, but these conditions include prolonged exposure in a poorly ventilated environment with heavy active smoking. Can you test positive for THC from secondhand smoke? The amount of THC inhaled via passive smoking in normal, everyday situations is usually not sufficient to produce a positive result on the standard cutoff limits that most of the existing laboratory drug testing programs are testing.
Risk of Passive Exposure
Is secondhand smoke a source of the presence of THC in your body? Yes — but most likely well below the standard detection limits of a laboratory testing program used in the professional drug testing world, especially if the exposure is brief or in an outdoor setting.
Multiple active smokers in a completely enclosed area that is completely unventilated is the most dangerous combination that can cause a test to be affected by passive THC exposure.
What factors can influence whether secondhand smoke will impact upon a drug test result?
It depends on a few things specifically whether secondhand smoke passive exposure causes a drug test to be affected. These variables help to account for the variability observed in the results from different humans exposed to the same toxin under various conditions and in various ways.
Concentration levels of THC, Exposure Time, and Ventilation
The key factors are length of exposure, ventilation and the amount of THC in the air. The highest absorption risk occurs when exposed for a longer period in a poorly ventilated indoor area to the smoke of high potency marijuana. A non-smoker’s blood level of THC can be lowered to an easily detectable amount of THC in a significant way with brief exposure in open or well-ventililated areas.
What Type of Drug Tests are best at detecting THC after exposure to secondhand smoke?
The sensitivity of various drug tests varies, and this is an influence on the presence of passively absorbed THC in a test. Can you get high from secondhand smoke? Possibly. Will that trace amount be picked up in a drug test? It depends on the test to be used and its particular detection level.
Urine, Saliva, Blood and Hair Testing Compared
- Urine testing is the most widely used testing modality for employment drug testing, and there are cutoff levels established for the presence of the THC metabolite. Passive exposure should not result in a THC metabolite concentration that is greater than 50 ng/mL, the standard cutoff level used by the majority of professional drug testing programs.
- Saliva testing will detect very recent THC exposure and is more sensitive to short term passive exposure — meaning that it is more likely than urine to show trace amounts of exposure to recent (short term) passive smoking in a closed-in setting.
- Blood test measures active THC instead of metabolites, meaning that passive exposure can give short, low-level blood THC levels, which usually pass in a few hours and are not considered to be high enough to trigger the typical clinical and legal blood test thresholds.
- Hair testing is the least likely to be affected by second hand smoke exposure; hair testing will only detect long-term patterns of drug use since the metabolites from drug use are incorporated into the hair follicles, and passive exposure, alone, seldom results in enough metabolite within the hair to lead to a positive result.
How long can THC be detected in the body after secondhand smoke?
How long will the second hand smoke stay in your system? It’s important to note that under normal circumstances, measurable amounts of THC, if any, will typically disappear after 24-48 hours with passive exposure. Is there any point beyond that time period where secondhand smoke can interfere with a drug test? It is unlikely, unless in extreme enclosed exposure conditions, it will be detected within the time frame specified hereunder, except for specific individual metabolic conditions.
Individual Factors and Detection Windows
Passive THC absorption has been seen to be cleared more quickly than active use, due to the amount absorbed being much lower. The duration that trace THC can be detected varies depending on individual metabolism, percentage of body fat, hydration and frequency of exposure. If you are not using marijuana, the amount of time secondhand smoke remains in your body is generally brief — typically less than 48 hours if you are in most environments and exposed to secondhand smoke normally.
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Conclusion
Under normal circumstances, can second hand smoke cause a failed drug test? Very seldom, but there is real risk with enclosed exposure if it is an extreme type of test, depending on the person. If you are about to take a drug test and you are worried about passive exposure, seek the help of professionals and be aware of your situation before assuming anything. Whether it be drug testing or DNA testing, Choice DNA offers professional, CLIA-certified drug testing and DNA testing services that deliver accurate, reliable results for individuals and employers to confidently act on.
