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Drug Detection Times
in urine are expressed below in terms of lower and upper boundaries. The
amount of time that a drug/metabolite remains detectable in urine can vary, depending on the following factors: |
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Amount
and Frequency of Use: Single, isolated, small doses are
generally detectable at the lower boundary. Chronic and long-term use
typically result in detection periods near or at the upper boundary. |
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Metabolic
Rate: Individuals with slower body metabolism are prone to
longer drug detection periods. |
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Body
Mass: In general, human metabolism slows with increased body
mass, resulting in longer drug detection periods. In addition, THC
(marijuana's active ingredient) and PCP are known to accumulate in
fatty lipid tissue. Chronic users, physically inactive users, and
individuals with a high percentage of body fat in relation to total
body mass are prone to longer drug detection periods for THC and PCP. |
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Age:
In general, human metabolism slows with age, resulting in longer drug detection
periods. |
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Overall
Health: In general, human metabolism slows during periods of
deteriorating health, resulting in longer drug detection periods. |
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Drug Tolerance:
Users typically metabolize a drug faster once a tolerance to the drug
is established. |
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Urine
pH: Urine pH can impact drug detection periods. Typically,
highly acidic urine results in shorter drug detection periods. |
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Note:
In a small percentage of cases, users may test positive
longer than times shown - most notably in cases of long-term chronic
abuse, in individuals with significant body mass and/or body fat, and in individuals with
health related issues resulting in abnormally slow body metabolism. |
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| Drug
/ Drug Group |
Time
Range |
| Alcohol |
24 hours or
less |
| Amphetamines |
1
to 4 days |
| Barbiturates |
Short-acting: 1 to
3 days |
| Long-acting
(Barbital, Phenobarbital): 1 to 3 weeks |
| Benzodiazepines |
Short-term
Therapeutic Use: 1 to 3 days |
| Long-term
/ Chronic Use: 1 to 3 weeks |
| Cocaine |
1
to 5 days |
| LSD |
1
to 2 days |
| Marijuana
(THC) |
Casual
Use: 1 to 7 days |
| Long-Term
/ Chronic
Use: 1 to 4 weeks |
| Note:
THC, marijuana's primary active ingredient, is
stored by the body in fatty lipid tissue. From there, it is
slowly released into the bloodstream for up to several weeks -
depending on the amount and frequency of use and the user's
level of physical activity. In chronic and physically inactive users, THC may accumulate in fatty tissues faster than it can be
eliminated. This accumulation leads to longer detection periods for
these individuals. Also, users with a high percentage of body
fat in relation to total body mass are prone to longer drug
detection periods for marijuana. |
| MDMA
(Ecstasy) |
1
to 4 days |
| Methadone |
1
to 4 days |
| Methamphetamines |
1
to 4 days |
| Opiates |
1
to 5 days |
| PCP
(Phencyclidine) |
Casual
Use: 1 to 7 days |
| Long-Term
/ Chronic
Use: 1 to 4 weeks |
| Note:
PCP is
stored by the body in fatty lipid tissue. From there, it is
slowly released into the bloodstream for up to several weeks -
depending on the amount and frequency of use and the user's
level of physical activity. In chronic and physically inactive
users, PCP may accumulate in fatty tissues faster than it can be
eliminated. This accumulation leads to longer detection periods for
these individuals. Also, users with a high percentage of body
fat in relation to total body mass are prone to longer drug
detection periods for PCP. |
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