What Does Modafinil Show Up As on a Drug Test: Understanding Detection and Implications

Does Modafinil Show Up on Standard Drug Tests?

Most standard drug tests, such as the SAMHSA-5 panel, screen for substances like THC, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP. Modafinil is generally not included in these standard screenings because it is a eugeroic (wakefulness-promoting agent) rather than a traditional stimulant (Nowak et al., 2025).

However, specialized or extended drug panels can detect Modafinil, especially in competitive sports or specific medical evaluations. For instance, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has banned Modafinil due to its potential performance-enhancing properties, leading to its inclusion in doping tests (Dubey et al., 2009).

What Type of Drug Test Can Detect Modafinil?

Urine Tests

• Standard urine drug tests do not typically screen for Modafinil.
• Specialized urine tests using techniques like Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) can detect Modafinil and its metabolites (Dubey et al., 2009).
• Detection Window: Modafinil can be detected in urine for up to 72 hours after ingestion, though its primary metabolite, modafinilic acid, may remain detectable for a longer period (Dubey et al., 2009).
• Variability: An excretion study showed that peak concentrations were eliminated within 6 hours, but traces of the parent drug could still be detected up to 80 hours post-administration (Dubey et al., 2009).

Blood Tests

• Standard blood tests do not typically screen for Modafinil (Nowak et al., 2025).
• Specialized blood tests using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS can detect Modafinil, though they are less common and usually reserved for forensic or medical contexts (Nowak et al., 2025).
• Detection Window: Modafinil can be detected in blood for approximately 10 to 12 hours after ingestion. However, some sources suggest a detection period of up to 10 hours, depending on individual metabolism and dosage (Nowak et al., 2025).
• Forensic Analysis: In post-mortem toxicology, UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS has been validated for detecting Modafinil in blood, urine, and other biological samples, confirming its forensic relevance (Nowak et al., 2025).

Hair Tests

• Hair follicle tests can detect Modafinil and its metabolites, but such testing is extremely rare and typically limited to forensic or investigational cases (Ameline et al., 2020).
• Detection Window: Due to the slow growth rate of hair, these tests can reflect drug use over extended periods, typically up to 90 days (Ameline et al., 2020).
• Scientific Evidence: A study by Ameline et al. (2020) demonstrated that both adrafinil and its metabolite, Modafinil, were detectable in human hair after self-administration, even at low doses (Ameline et al., 2020).

Why Might Modafinil Be Screened For?

1. Sports and Athletics

• The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Modafinil in 2004 due to its potential performance-enhancing properties (Dubey et al., 2009).
• Athletes were caught using Modafinil, leading to its classification as a stimulant in sports (Dubey et al., 2009).
• WADA’s Detection Limit: The minimum required performance limit for Modafinil in doping tests is 500 ng/mL (Dubey et al., 2009).
• Testing Methods: LC-MS/MS and GC-MS are used to confirm Modafinil use in anti-doping programs (Dubey et al., 2009).

2. Military and Aviation

• Some military branches and commercial airline pilots are restricted from using Modafinil unless medically prescribed.
• Specialized testing may be conducted in these fields to ensure safety and compliance with regulations (Wingelaar-Jagt et al., 2022).

Military Use:

• The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) authorizes Modafinil use for fighter pilots during deployments.
• Pilots must complete a 24-hour ground test before using Modafinil in flight (Wingelaar-Jagt et al., 2022).
• The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has approved Modafinil use since 2011 as a fatigue countermeasure.

3. Government and High-Security Jobs

• Agencies conducting security clearance screenings may test for Modafinil, particularly in defense, intelligence, or law enforcement roles (DOHA, 2019).
• Security Concerns: Unauthorized use of Modafinil can raise red flags under Guideline H (Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse) in security clearance evaluations (DOHA, 2019).
• Case Example: In ISCR Case No. 19-01325, an applicant was denied a security clearance due to past misuse of Modafinil, Adderall, and other stimulants (DOHA, 2019).

Can Modafinil Trigger a False Positive?

Modafinil does not typically cause false positives for other substances on standard drug tests (Dubey et al., 2009).

Due to its structural similarity to some stimulants, there is a small possibility of misidentification on poorly calibrated tests (Dubey et al., 2009).

How to Handle Drug Testing If You Use Modafinil

With a Prescription:

If you have a valid prescription for Modafinil, inform your employer, athletic organization, or testing agency before undergoing a drug test.

Without a Prescription:

Using Modafinil without a prescription may violate workplace or industry drug policies.

References

• Nowak, K., Chłopaś-Konowałek, A., Szpot, P., & Zawadzki, M. (2025). The Issue of “Smart Drugs” on the Example of Modafinil: Toxicological Analysis of Evidences and Biological Samples. Journal of Xenobiotics, 15(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15010015

• Dubey, S., Ahi, S., Reddy, I. M., Kaur, T., Beotra, A., & Jain, S. (2009). A novel study of screening and confirmation of modafinil, adrafinil and their metabolite modafinilic acid under EI-GC-MS and ESI-LC-MS-MS ionization. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 41(6), 278-283. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7613.59928

• Ameline, A., Gheddar, L., Raul, J., & Kintz, P. (2020). Identification of adrafinil and its main metabolite modafinil in human hair. Self-administration study and interpretation of an authentic case. Forensic Sciences Research, 5, 322-326. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33457050/

• Wingelaar-Jagt, Y., Wingelaar, T., Riedel, W., & Ramaekers, J. (2022). Subjective Effects of Modafinil in Military Fighter Pilots During Deployment. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 93, 739-745. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.6072.2022

• Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals. (2019). ISCR Case No. 19-01325. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved from https://doha.ogc.osd.mil/Industrial-Security-Program/Industrial-Security-Clearance-Decisions/ISCR-Hearing-Decisions/2019-ISCR-Hearing-Decisions/FileId/113154/