Welcome to Burbank Emergency Medical Group
Drug Detection Times in Urine
Home | CONTACT | BILLING QUESTIONS | APPLICANTS | References | EM Links

DRUG DETECTION TIME IN URINE FOLLOWING LAST DOSE

The duration of excretion of detectable amounts of drug in the urine following last intake is highly variable. A general rule of thumb is five plasma half-lives. This is simply a rough estimate given the following variables: route of administration, amount of drug taken, frequency of use, individual metabolism, urinary pH, and drug storage within body.

The usual drug screen includes the tests below:

                                                          ACUTE USE             CHRONIC USE

Amphetamines:                                 one day                     several weeks

Barbiturates short acting (e.g. Seco): one day

long acting (e.g. Pheno):                  2-3 weeks

Benzodiazapenes                            3 days                        4-6 weeks

Cocaine Metabolites                        2-3 days                    several days

Codeine/Morphine                           2-4 days                     several days

Methadone                                        2-3 days                     1-2 weeks

PCP                                                   up to 1 week              1-2 weeks

Propoxyphene                                  1-2 days                      several days

Marijuana single smoke:                 up to 4 days

                moderate use:                  up to 10 days

                heavy use                          up to 4-6 weeks

                passive inhalation:            negative

Nicotine moderate use:                    1-2 days