Does Modafinil Show Up on a Drug Test?
The short answer: modafinil will not appear on a standard 5-panel or 10-panel workplace drug test. But the full picture is more nuanced — specific tests can detect it, and certain contexts (professional sport, military service) absolutely test for it.
Standard Workplace Drug Tests
The most common workplace drug screening is a urine-based immunoassay that tests for a fixed panel of substances. The standard panels screen for:
- Cannabis (THC)
- Cocaine
- Opiates / opioids
- Amphetamines / methamphetamine
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
Modafinil is not included in any standard panel. It is also not an amphetamine — its chemical structure and mechanism are entirely different — and it does not cross-react with amphetamine immunoassay tests. A standard workplace drug screen will not detect modafinil.
Extended 12-panel tests sometimes add benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, propoxyphene, and MDMA. Modafinil still does not feature on any of these.
Can a Test Be Specifically Ordered for Modafinil?
Yes. A specialised gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) test can detect modafinil and its metabolites in urine. These tests are not part of routine workplace screening — they are used in specific investigative or high-stakes contexts. If a lab is specifically looking for modafinil, it can find it.
Detection Window
When modafinil is being specifically tested for, the detection window in urine is approximately:
- Urine: 1–3 days after a single dose, possibly up to 4 days with heavy or repeated use
- Blood: 12–24 hours (the half-life is 12-15 hours, so blood levels decline quickly)
- Hair follicle: Up to 90 days, as with most substances — but hair testing for modafinil specifically is extremely rare
Professional Sport and Athletic Testing
This is the context where modafinil detection matters most. Modafinil has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list since 2004, when several athletes were caught using it at the Athens Olympics. It falls under the "non-specified stimulants" category and is prohibited in-competition.
Anti-doping tests specifically screen for modafinil. Any athlete subject to WADA-compliant testing should treat modafinil as a banned substance. The detection window in urine is sufficient to catch recent use with standard in-competition testing.
Military Testing
The US military does not include modafinil in its standard drug screening panels. However, modafinil is used by the military officially (it is approved for specific operations), so the approach to testing varies by branch, unit, and context. If in any doubt, the answer for anyone in military service is to assume it could be tested for and seek formal guidance from medical staff.
What If You Have a Prescription?
If you have a valid prescription for modafinil and are subject to a test that could detect it, declare it. A positive test with a disclosed prescription is not a problem in civilian employment contexts. In sport, a prescription does not provide a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) exemption from the WADA ban — athletes must apply for a TUE in advance.
Key Takeaways
- Standard 5- or 10-panel workplace urine tests do not detect modafinil
- Modafinil does not cross-react with amphetamine tests
- Specialised GC-MS/LC-MS tests can detect it — detection window is 1–3 days in urine
- WADA prohibits modafinil — all competitive athletes should treat it as banned
- Military testing varies — seek formal medical guidance if relevant