Yes. Norketamine is one of the 76 compounds in the LabX LC-MS/MS confirmation panel, reported as detected at or above 50 ng/mL. It is a breakdown product of ketamine. Norketamine is not one of the 12 lines on the LabX 12-panel screen. It is identified by adding laboratory confirmation, which tests for all 76 compounds on the panel.
Norketamine is the main active metabolite of ketamine, formed in the liver.
Norketamine is not prescribed on its own; it reflects ketamine or esketamine that has been metabolized.
Because Norketamine comes from Ketamine, the two are reported side by side and read together.
Norketamine is measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which separates the compounds in a sample and identifies each one by its mass. That is different from a rapid screen, which reacts to a family of drugs and can occasionally react to a related substance. The laboratory reports Norketamine as detected when its concentration is at or above the cut-off of 50 ng/mL, within a reportable range of 50–5,000 ng/mL. It is one of 6 compounds in the dissociatives, adulterants and exposure markers family on the 76-drug confirmation panel.
The laboratory's confirmation report lists an approximate detection window of 2-8 days for Norketamine. Treat that as a rough guide only: how long any compound stays measurable varies with the amount taken, how often it is used, body composition, metabolism, kidney and liver function, and hydration. A laboratory result cannot be used to work out when a substance was taken.
Norketamine is not one of the 12 lines on the LabX 12-panel screen. It is identified by adding laboratory confirmation, which tests for all 76 compounds on the panel.
Norketamine can remain measurable after ketamine itself falls below the laboratory cut-off, so the two are reported together.
Dissociative drugs, the street-supply adulterant xylazine, and markers of cannabis and alcohol exposure.
Yes. Norketamine is one of the 76 compounds in the LabX LC-MS/MS confirmation panel, reported as detected at or above 50 ng/mL. It is a breakdown product of ketamine. Norketamine is not one of the 12 lines on the LabX 12-panel screen. It is identified by adding laboratory confirmation, which tests for all 76 compounds on the panel.
LabX reports Norketamine as detected at or above 50 ng/mL, and the method's reportable range is 50–5,000 ng/mL. A result below the cut-off is reported as not detected; it does not prove none was present.
The laboratory lists an approximate window of 2-8 days, but it varies with dose, frequency of use, metabolism and hydration, and cannot be used to tell when something was taken.
Norketamine is not one of the 12 lines on the LabX 12-panel screen. It is identified by adding laboratory confirmation, which tests for all 76 compounds on the panel.
Norketamine is not prescribed on its own; it reflects ketamine or esketamine that has been metabolized.
Norketamine is a breakdown product of ketamine. Laboratories measure it because it shows the parent drug was actually processed by the body.
Terms on this page: metabolite · cut-off · detection window · presumptive result · confirmation test. More questions: LabX answers.
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