Detection Periods
The following chart from LabCorp gives approximate detection periods for each substance by test type.
The detection windows depend upon multiple factors—drug class, amount and frequency of use, metabolic rate, body mass, age, overall health, and urine pH. For ease of use, the detection times of metabolites have been incorporated into each parent drug. For example, heroin and cocaine can only be detected for a few hours after use, but their metabolites can be detected for several days in urine. In this type of situation, we will report the (longer) detection times of the metabolites.
Oral fluid or saliva testing results for the most part mimic that of blood. The only exceptions are THC (tetrahyrocannabinol) and benzodiazepines. Oral fluid will likely detect THC from ingestion up to a maximum period of 6–12 hours. This continues to cause difficulty in oral fluid detection of THC and benzodiazepines.
Rapid oral fluid products are not approved for use in workplace drug testing programs and are not FDA cleared. Using rapid oral fluid drug tests in the workplace is a violation of many state and federal laws.
| Substance | Urine | Hair | Blood / Oral Fluid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | 6–24 hours Note: Alcohol tests may measure EtG which can stay in urine for up to 80 hours | up to 2 days | 12–24 hours |
| Amphetamines (except methamphetamine) | 1 to 4 days | up to 90 days | 12 hours |
| Methamphetamine | 3 to 5 days | up to 90 days | 1–3 days |
| MDMA (Ecstasy) | 72 – 96 hours | up to 90 days | 72 – 96 hours |
| Barbiturates (except phenobarbital) | 1 day | up to 90 days | 1 to 2 days |
| Phenobarbital | 2 to 3 weeks | up to 90 days | 4 to 7 days |
| Benzodiazepines | Therapeutic use: up to 7 days. Chronic use (over one year): 4 to 6 weeks | up to 90 days | 6 to 48 hours |
| Cannabis | Infrequent users: 3-4 Days; Heavy users: 10 days; Chronic users and/or users with high body fat: 30 days or more. | up to 90 days | 2–3 days in blood, up to 2 weeks in blood of heavy users However, it depends on whether actual THC or THC metabolites are being tested for, the latter having a much longer detection time than the former. THC (found in marijuana) may only be detectable in saliva/oral fluid for 2–24 hours in most cases. |
| Cocaine | 2 to 5 days with exceptions for certain kidney disorders | up to 90 days | 2 to 5 days |
| Codeine | 2 to 3 days | ||
| Cotinine (a break-down product of nicotine) | 2 to 4 days | up to 90 days | 2 to 4 days |
| Morphine | 2 to 4 days | up to 90 days | 1 – 3 days |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) | 7 to 10 days | Undetectable | Detectable but dose relationship not established |
| LSD | 12 to 24 hours | Undetectable } | 2 to 4 days |
| Methadone | 7 to 30 days | up to 90 days | 24 hours |
| Steroids | 3 to 30 days | ||
| PCP | 3 to 7 days for single use; up to 30 days in chronic users | up to 90 days | 1 to 3 days |
Read more about this topic: Drug Test
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