Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS)

Alias: Amfetamine

Interpretation

• The presence of ATS >LOQ indicates exposure within a 2- to 3-day interval preceding specimen collection.

Metabolites

• Methamphetamine is metabolized to amphetamine; both can be present in urine after methamphetamine use.
  
  

  Methamphetamine → Amphetamine

• Selegiline, femprofazone, and benzphetamine are all metabolized to methamphetamine and amphetamine.
• Clobenzorex is metabolized to amphetamine.
• Amphetamine is not metabolized to methamphetamine; absence of methamphetamine in the presence of amphetamine indicates the primary drug of use is amphetamine.
  
• 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy, MDMA) is metabolized to 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA).
  
  

  3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine → 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine

Approximate Detection Times

Amphetamine-Type Stimulants	LOQ (ng/mL)	Detection Time* up to
Amphetamine	50	3 days
Methamphetamine	50	3 days
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)	50	2 days
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)	50	2 days
Phentermine	50
Ephedrine/pseudoephedrine	Not quantitated	5 days

*These are approximate detection times for the drug or metabolites in urine. The actual detection time depends on dose, frequency of use, and individual metabolism.

Note: These tests do not differentiate between dextro (+) amphetamines (eg, dexamphetamine) and racemic mixtures of dextro (+) and levo (-) isomers that are present in “street” amphetamines. These tests do not differentiate between ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.