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.
- NOTE 1: Oral fluid or saliva testing results for the most part mimic that of blood. The only exceptions are THC and benzodiazepines. Oral fluid will likely detect THC from ingestion up to a maximum period of 18–24 hours. Low saliva:plasma ratio continues to cause difficulty in oral fluid detection of benzodiazepines
- NOTE 2: Urine cannot detect current drug use. It takes approximately 6–8 hours or more post-consumption for drug to be metabolized and excreted in urine. Similarly, hair requires two weeks, and sweat, seven days.
| Substance | Urine | Hair | Blood / Oral Fluid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | 6–24 hours [3] | up to 90 days | 12–24 hours |
| Amphetamines (except meth) | 1 to 3 days[4] | up to 90 days | 12 hours |
| Methamphetamine | 3 to 5 days[5] | up to 90 days | 1–3 days[5] |
| MDMA (Ecstasy) | 24 hrs | up to 90 days | 25 hours |
| Barbiturates (except phenobarbital) | 1 day | up to 90 days | 1 to 2 days |
| Phenobarbital | 2 to 3 months[6] | 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 | 3 to 5 days, and sometimes up to 30 days[7] | up to 90 days [7] | Up to 24 hours [8] |
| Cocaine | 2 to 5 days with exceptions for certain kidney disorders[9] | up to 90 days | 2 to 5 days[10] |
| Codeine | 2 to 3 days[11] | up to 90 days | 2 to 3 days[11] |
| Cotinine (a break-down product of nicotine) | 2 to 4 days | up to 90 days | 2 to 4 days |
| Morphine | 2 days | up to 90 days | 1 – 3 days |
| Heroin | 3 to 4 days[12] | up to 90 days | 1– 2 days |
| LSD | 24 to 72 hours (however tests for LSD are very uncommon) | up to 3 days[citation needed] | 0 to 3 hours |
| Methadone | 3 days | up to 97 days | 24 hours |
| PCP | 3 to 7 days for single use; up to 30 days in chronic users[13] | up to 90 days | 1 to 3 days[13] |
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