What Is Benzoylecgonine?
Benzoylecgonine is the main metabolite of cocaine. Normally a benzoylecgonine drug test kit will be used to detect recent usage of Cocaine.
When cocaine enters the body, it is metabolised by the liver into benzoylecgonine and it is this by-product of cocaine that is excreted in urine. Cocaine itself normally leaves the body in 12 hours or less, meaning that you would have to be very quick to detect it using a drug test. Because benzoylecgonine takes longer to be eliminated from the body, it is this metabolite that is normally checked for by a urine drug test for cocaine.
Interestingly, benzoylecgonine’s persistence in the body can be both a blessing and a curse for drug testing. While it allows for a longer detection window, typically up to 72 hours after cocaine use, it can also lead to false positives in certain situations. For instance, some South American teas contain trace amounts of coca leaf, which can produce benzoylecgonine metabolites. Moreover, certain medical procedures, like the use of lidocaine as a local anaesthetic, can potentially trigger a positive result. That’s why it’s crucial to consider an individual’s full medical history and recent activities when interpreting test results. Always remember, a positive test doesn’t automatically imply illicit drug use – context is key.
Drug test kits for Benzoylecgonine are not normally available over the counter in a chemist shop. As far as we know, you won’t find them in Boots or Superdrug and you certainly would not find them in the pharmacy section of any supermarket such as Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury’s.
Because a benzoylecgonine drug test kit is normally designed for professional use only, they are generally only available online from specialist companies such as Zoom Testing, who are experts in drug testing technology, and who can always recommend the right type of drug test kit for each situation.
Urine Drug Test Kits for Benzoylecgonine
A urine drug test for Benzoylecgonine is the most commonly used drug screen used by employers and medical professionals. This type of drug screen can be bought as a single drug test for benzoylecgonine, and as a multi-panel drug test for benzoylecgonine that will test for that drug as well as a combination of other, popular drugs of abuse.
A 5 panel drug screen is a commonly used urine test that is used by companies to drug test their employees or job applicants. This test will detect benzoylecgonine. Some of these test can screen for many drugs, with a 12 panel test being the most comprehensive on the market today.
How Accurate Is a Benzoylecgonine Drug Test Kit?
Today’s urine drug test kits are very accurate indeed. Results can be read within 5-10 minutes and are generally have over 99% accuracy when used correctly. To do this, make sure that the printed instructions provided with the kit are followed closely.
Photo Credit: Zoom Testing
Zoom Testing is a leading UK drug testing company and a supplier of Drug Test Kits.
This post was originally published in 2014 and has been updated since.
