Mar 1, 2012

What is the window of detection for drugs in urine, saliva, sweat, and hair?

In general, the window of detection in saliva is shorter than testing any other medium.  The presence of drugs in saliva is more likely to indicate current intoxication from the drug, especially for marijuana.  Sweat and hair offer longer look-back windows, as both of these testing methods continuously monitor an individual’s drug use.  The following table gives estimates for the window of detection for the most commonly abused drugs.

DrugDetection Time in UrineDetection Time in SalivaDetection Time in Sweat*Detection Time in Hair**
Amphetamine (AMP)2 – 4 Days1 – 3 Days7 Days90 Days
Barbiturates (BAR)4 – 7 Days   
Benzodiazepines (BZO)3 – 7 Days   
Cocaine (COC)2 – 4 Days1 – 3 Days7 Days90 Days
Ecstasy (MDMA)1 – 3 Days   
Methadone (MTD)3 – 5 Days   
Methamphetamine (MET )3 – 5 Days1- 3 Days  
Opiates (MOR)2 – 4 Days 7 Days90 Days
Opiates (OPI)2 – 4 Days1 – 3 Days7 Days90 Days
Phencyclidine (PCP)7 – 14 Days1 – 3 Days7 Days90 Days
THC (THC)3 – 14 Days6 – 12 Hours7 Days90 Days
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA)7 – 10 Days   
Propoxyphene (PPX)1 – 2 Days   
Oxycodone (OXY)2 – 4 Days   

* The subject typically wears the sweat patch for seven days.  The sweat patch continuously monitors drug use throughout the wear period.

** The typical hair specimen is 1 ½ inches of hair closest to the scalp, which equates to 90 days of hair growth.