Approximate Duration of Detectability and Common Cutoffs for Selected Drugs
Drug | Metabolite | Window of Detection | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Alcohol | Alcohol | 7–12 h | Ethyl succinate and ethyl glucuronide can persist in the urine up to 5 d after heavy alcohol use. However, use of hand sanitizer, mouthwash, cough syrup, etc, can result in low levels without “alcohol use.” |
Ethyl succinate, ethyl glucuronide | Up to 5 d | ||
Amphetamines | |||
Amphetamine (AMP) | MAMP | 1–3 d | Note that methylphenidate is not detected on a routine amphetamine panel; therefore, a positive amphetamine test result cannot be explained by use of a methylphenidate preparation. |
Methamphetamine (MAMP) | >100 ng/mL of AMP+MAMP | 1–2 d | |
3,4-MethylenediozyAMP | MDA | 1–2 d | |
3,4-MethylenediozyMAMP | MDMA | 1–2 d | |
Barbiturates | |||
Pento/secobarbital | Secobarbital | Short-acting, 4–6 d | |
Butalbital | Secobarbital | Intermediate, 3–8 d | |
Phenobarbital | Secobarbital | Long-acting, 10–30 d | |
Benzodiazepines | |||
Triazolam | Hydroxyethyl flurazepam | Short-acting, 1 d | Most benzodiazepine screens identify oxazepam and will not pick up all benzodiazepines. If evaluating a patient for benzodiazepine use, it is important to find the specific drug on the test panel or speak with the laboratory personnel. |
Clonazepam | 7-amino Clonazepam | Intermediate, 1–12.5 d | |
Diazepam | Oxazepam | Long-acting, 5–8 d | |
Chronic use | Can last 30 d after last use | ||
Cocaine | Benzoylecgonine | 1–3 d | |
Cannabinoids | Carboxy-THC | Single use, 1–3 d | Note that synthetic cannabinoids will not be picked up on a cannabinoid screen. If use of synthetic cannabinoids is suspected, speak to the laboratory regarding availability of tests for these substances. |
Moderate use, 4 d; heavy use, 10 d | |||
Chronic, 3–5 wk after last use | |||
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) | Nor-LSD | 4 h | |
Methadone | Methadone and metabolite 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine | 1 d–1 wk | |
Opiates | |||
Morphine (M) | Morphine | 1–2 d | |
Codeine (C) | Morphine and codeine | 1–2 d | |
Semisynthetic opiates | Hydrocodone | 1–2 d | |
Hydromorphone | 1–2 d | ||
Oxycodone | 1–3 d | ||
Oxymorphone | 1.5–2.5 d | ||
Heroin | 6-acetyl-morphine +morphine | <24 h up to 1–2 d | 6-acetyl-morphine is pathognomonic for heroin use but has a narrow time window and is most often not detected on a drug test. A test that is positive for morphine outside of the use of prescribed morphine is suggestive of heroin use. |
Phencyclidine (PCP) | Phencyclidine | Casual use, 2–10 d | |
Chronic use, several weeks |