Which substance can sometimes lead to missed detection in standard urine drug screens?

Oxycodone can sometimes elude detection in standard urine drug screens due to its chemical structure and the testing methods often employed. Standard urine drug tests typically screen for more common drugs and their metabolites, focusing on substances like morphine, codeine, and hydrocodone, which are derived from opiates and have well-established detection protocols.

Oxycodone, however, is a semi-synthetic opioid that may not be included in all basic panels, particularly if those panels are designed primarily to detect the metabolites of natural opiates or substances commonly abused. Additionally, if the test is not specifically designed to identify oxycodone or uses a cutoff level that doesn't account for lower concentrations, there is a risk of it going undetected.

Due to these factors, oxycodone's detection is more dependent on the specifics of the testing methodology used, which can lead to missed detections in standard urine screens, making it important in clinical and forensic settings to ensure appropriate tests are being utilized for comprehensive substance monitoring.