Quick answer
Khat (cathinone) is typically detectable in urine for roughly 1–2 days (specialised assay) after any use. It is not part of standard employment panels.
Not screened on standard employment panels.
Typical cutoff: Not reliably detected by standard amphetamine screens; a dedicated assay is needed. Urine is typically positive for about 1–2 days.
Detection window by test type
| urine | |
|---|---|
| Any use | roughly 1–2 days (specialised assay) |
| saliva | |
| Any use | hours |
| hair | |
| Any use | detectable on specialised testing |
| blood | |
| Any use | hours |
Ranges reflect typical published detection windows and vary with dose, frequency, body composition, hydration and the assay used.
Key details
Khat is a plant whose leaves contain cathinone, a stimulant chemically related to amphetamine. Standard amphetamine immunoassays often do not detect it.
Detection generally requires a dedicated mass-spectrometry assay; a negative standard panel does not rule out khat use.
Cathinone degrades quickly after harvest, which is one reason its presence is difficult to standardise across tests.
How Khat (cathinone) is tested
Not reliably detected by standard amphetamine screens; a dedicated assay is needed. Urine is typically positive for about 1–2 days. Screening immunoassays are presumptive — a non-negative screen is confirmed by GC-MS or LC-MS/MS at a lower cutoff before it is reported as positive. It is not part of the standard 5-, 10- or 12-panel or DOT tests.
Legal status
Cathinone is Schedule I; the plant is controlled in the US.
Frequently asked questions
How long does khat (cathinone) stay in your system?
In urine, typical detection is roughly 1–2 days (specialised assay). Hair can detect use for up to 90 days and saliva/blood windows are usually shorter.
Will khat (cathinone) show up on a standard drug test?
No — Khat (cathinone) is not part of the standard 5-, 10- or 12-panel or DOT tests. It would require a specialised or expanded assay.
How accurate are these detection windows?
They are typical ranges from published literature and assay documentation, not guarantees. Clearance depends on dose, frequency, metabolism and the specific test cutoff used.
Khat (cathinone) testing by state
Related substances
Cite this page
DrugPanels. “Khat (cathinone) Detection Time.” https://drugpanels.com/detection/khat/. Accessed 2026-09-10.
Sources
- NIDA research monographs on drug testing and pharmacokinetics — National Institute on Drug Abuse — nida.nih.gov
- SAMHSA drug testing resources and analyte specifications — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — samhsa.gov
Detection windows describe typical ranges from the published literature and assay documentation; individual results vary. See our methodology.