Window of Detection
Oral Fluid: Earlier Detection
Blood, saliva, and urine testing have the ability to detect drugs for one to four days after the last dose. But research continues to affirm the superiority of oral fluid for drug testing with regards to early detection. In its similarity to blood, oral fluid testing enables the detection of drug usage within the first four or five hours, a window of time often omitted by urine test results.
The correlation between blood and oral fluid levels allows for the estimation of the level of drug that are circulating the subject’s system in real-time. In some cases, it will return a positive result almost immediately after usage. This correlation with impairment combined with the ability to detect drugs almost immediately after last usage makes oral fluid drug testing the best method for both impairment/post-accident testing and prescription drug dosage monitoring.
Drug-Specific Detection Windows
Different drugs can be detected within different windows of time. Below is a chart showing various drug classifications and their approximate, corresponding window of detection. You may also download the complete chart as a PDF.
| Drug / Classification | Street / Trade Names | Approx. Window |
|---|---|---|
| Amphetamines / Methamphetamines | Crystal, Ecstasy, Crank, Speed, Meth, Bennies, Uppers, Reds, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Obetrol, MDA, MDMA, Bath Salts | 1-2 Days |
| Cocaine | Coke, Flake, Snow, Crack | 2-4 Days |
| Cannabinoids | Weed, Pot, Grass, Gold, Spice, Special K, K2 | 1-3 Days |
| Opiates | Smack, Horse, Big M, Dover’s powder, Robitussin A-C, Tylenol with Codeine, Paregoric, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone | 1-3 Days |
| Benzodiazepines | Tranks, Ativan, Dalmane, Diazepam, Librium, Xanax, Lorazepam, Valium, Clonazepam, Halcion, Prazepam, Oxazepam | 3-5 Days (or longer) |
| Barbiturates | Black Beauties, Seconal, Downers, Goofball, Amytal, Butisol, Fiorinal, Nembutal, Phenobarbital, Tuinal | Short-Acting: 1 Day Long-Acting: 2-3 Weeks |
| Methadone | Synthetic narcotic, Dolophine, Methadose, Dome | 4 Days |
| Phencyclidine | PCP, Angel Dust, Hog | 5-8 Days |
References
- Cone, E.J., Heltsley, R., Black, D.L., Mitchell, J.M., LoDico, C.P., Flegel, R.R. (2013) Prescription Opioids. II. Metabolism and Excretion Patterns of Hydrocodone in Urine Following Controlled Single-Dose Administration. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 37, 486-494.
- Cone, E.J., Heltsley, R., Black, D.L., Mitchell, J.M., LoDico, C.P., Flegel, R.R. (2013) Oxycodone and Hydrocodone: Kinetic Relationships of Whole Blood to Oral Fluid. Powerpoint presentation at Society of Forensic Toxicologists Annual Meeting, Orlando FL.