Date Rape Drug - Detection

Detection

If possible, victims of a DFSA should seek medical care within 72 hours of the assault. After 72 hours it is much less likely that tests will successfully detect the presence of drugs, because most will have become metabolized and eliminated from the body, resulting in a false negative. Ideally the first urine the victim produces after the assault will be tested for the presence of drugs: if possible, he or she should collect it into a clean container to give to medical authorities.

In addition to urine, medical authorities may take samples of the victim's blood and hair. Hair samples are typically taken 14 days after exposure to the drug (although they may be taken as early as 24 hours), to allow for absorption of the drug into the hair with growth of the hair. Testing of hair can extend the window for date rape drug detection to weeks or even months.

The victim should do their best to describe the effects of the drug, because most laboratories will not do a broad drug screen, and knowing the drug's effects will help law enforcement authorities know which drugs to test for. Advocates for rape victims advise them to tell investigators if they have recently used drugs recreationally because those drugs may be detected in the drug screen, and pre-disclosure will have the least-negative impact on the victim's credibility.

In the United States, law enforcement agencies will general pay for the drug testing if it's requested by them as part of a rape kit. If a victim requests drug testing, particularly if she has not filed a police report, her insurance will often refuse to pay for the test, and she will need to pay for it herself.

Testing kits for detection of ketamine, and benzodiazepines such as temazepam in seconds are commercially available. GHB can be tested in hair through private companies. Companies around the world are making or trying to make paper coasters or test strips that change color when dabbed with a drink doctored with a date rape drug.