Ketamine Explained

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that is used both medically and recreationally, and it’s important to understand how it relates to drug testing, especially in occupational, forensic, and clinical settings. Here’s a detailed explanation tailored to the drug testing industry:

What is Ketamine?

  • Medical Use: Approved for anesthesia and more recently for treatment-resistant depression (as esketamine, under brand names like Spravato).

  • Recreational Use: Often used illicitly for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects. Street names include “Special K,” “K,” or “KitKat.”

Detection of Ketamine in Drug Testing

Testing Methods

  • Immunoassay (Initial Screen): Most standard workplace drug panels (e.g., SAMHSA 5-panel) do not include ketamine by default.

  • GC-MS or LC-MS/MS (Confirmatory Tests): These sophisticated lab-based methods can specifically identify and quantify ketamine and its metabolites (e.g., norketamine).

Specimens Used

  • Urine (most common): Ketamine can be detected for up to 2–4 days after use.

  • Blood: Detection within 24 hours typically.

  • Hair: Can reveal use over a 90-day window.

  • Saliva: Less common for ketamine, but possible.

Relevance in Drug Testing Industry

1. Workplace Testing

  • Not routinely tested unless requested by the employer (e.g., for high-risk roles in aviation or healthcare).

  • May be included in expanded or customized drug panels.

2. Forensic and Legal Testing

  • Common in DUI or accident investigations, particularly if impaired driving is suspected and other drugs are not present.

  • Also relevant in sexual assault investigations, as ketamine is sometimes used as a “date rape” drug.

3. Clinical Toxicology

  • Testing may be ordered to monitor compliance or misuse, especially in patients receiving ketamine therapy for depression.

Challenges and Considerations

False Negatives in Routine Panels

  • Standard drug panels often miss ketamine unless it’s specifically tested for.

Cost and Complexity

  • Testing for ketamine requires more advanced analytical methods, which increases the cost and turnaround time.

Regulatory Status

  • Schedule III (U.S.): Legal for medical use, but tightly controlled. Misuse can have legal implications.

Emerging Trends

  • Increased medical use (e.g., esketamine) has raised concerns about therapeutic misuse.

  • Some drug testing services now offer ketamine-specific panels for clinics or employers concerned about dissociative abuse.

Summary

Aspect Detail
Drug Class Dissociative anesthetic
Standard Testing Panel Not included by default
Detection Window 1–4 days (urine); longer in hair
Confirmatory Testing GC-MS or LC-MS/MS
Common Uses Anesthesia, depression, recreational
Legal Status (US) Schedule III controlled substance