Drug Test Detection Times & Cut Off Levels

Drug test detection times and cut off levels for urine and saliva drug testing kits

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Detection times for drugs

The time that drugs can be detected on a drug test, varies depending on the type of drug test kit used, and also the brand of drug testing kit that is used. This is often referred to as the window of detection for a drug.  As a general rule drugs can be detected longer in urine than in saliva. 

Urine drug test detection times & cut off levels

Use the tables below to confirm the sensitivity and window of detection possible. Our urine drug testing cup kits contain everything you need to perform urine drug screening in the workplace 

Drug test detection times and drug test detection cut off level table below shows:

• The full name of drug
• Drug test code abbreviations on the drug test next to its name
• The detection windows for each drug ie the approximate detectable time each drug remains detectable in the urine after last use
• The cut off levels for detection of each drug in urine

This tables below should help you in understanding what the abbreviated names on a drug test mean, and how long the after a drug has been consumed can the drug be detected in urine or saliva.

UK Drug Testing urine drug test codes & standard sensitivity cut off levels and detection times

Some ultra sensitive drug test membranes now have enhanced sensitivities specified in the individual drug test listing. Ultra drug tests may not extend the detection period by a whole day, explaining why the detection window is quoted as the same as the less sensitive option. But you will get a positive result at the lower cut off levels quoted.

Drug Name:	Abbreviation:	Detection Period Up To	Cut off:
Alcohol	ETG	Up to 80 hours	500ng/mL
AB-PINICA synthetic THC	APB	2-5 days	10ng/mL
Amphetamine	AMP	1-6 days 1-3 days	500ng/mL 1000ng/mL
Barbiturates	BAR	3-8 days	300ng/mL
Benzodiazepines	BZO	Up to 7 days，up to 6 weeks with heavy use of long-acting benzodiazepines	300ng/mL
Buprenorphine	BUP	3-6 days	10ng/mL
Cannabinol	CNB	5-30 days	500ng/ml
Cannabis (Marijuana, Weed)	THC	5-30 days 5-45 days *	50ng/mL 25ng/ml 20ng/ml
Cathinone	CAT	1-4 days	150ng/mL
Carfentanyl	CFYL	2-5 days	500ng/mL
Cocaine	COC	1-2 days 1-3 days	300ng/mL 150ng/mL 100ng/mL
Cotinine	COT	2-3 days	100ng/mL
Ecstasy	MDMA	1-3 days	1000ng/mL
EDDP	EDDP	2-8 days	300ng/mL
Fentanyl	FYL	2-72 hours	10ng/mL
Gabapentin	GAB	1-2 days	2000ng/mL
Ketamine	KET	3-5 days	1000ng/mL
Lysergic Acid	LSD	2-5 days	20ng/mL
Meperidine	MPRD	1-4 days	100ng/mL
Mephedrone	MEP	1-2 days	100ng/mL
Methadone	MTD	2-8 days	300ng/mL
Methamphetamine	mAMP	3-5 days	1000ng/mL
Methaqualone	MQL	8-24 days	300ng/mL
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone	MDPV	3-5 days	1000ng/mL
6-monoacetylmorphine	6-MAM	2-5 days	10ng/mL
Opiate / Morphine	MOR/P	3-72hours	300ng/mL
Opiate / Morphine	OPI	3-72hours	2000ng/mL
Oxycodone	OXY	2-4 days	300ng/mL
Phencyclidine	PCP	7-14 days	25ng/mL
Pregabalin	PGB	3-5 days	50ug/mL
Propoxyphene	PPX	1-2 days	300ng/mL
Synthetic Marijuana	K2/Spice	Up to 72 hrs	50ng/mL
Tramadol	TML	1-4 days	500ng/mL
Trazadone	TZD	3-5 days	200ng/mL
Tricyclic Antidepressants	TCA	2-10 days	300ng/mL
Zolpidem	ZOL	1-7 days	50ng/mL

 

* Cannabis THC detection times in urine have been reported as testing positive up to 45 days after last use following heavy long term Cannabis use in individuals with high residual body fat levels, as THC is stored in fat and can be released gradually. This is particular common if an ultra sensitive 20ng or 25ng THC detection urine drug test is used in place of the usual 50ng THC detection test. How long THC stays in a person's system varies hugely between individuals.

How long are drugs detectable in urine and saliva?

Cut-off levels for drug test kits are brand specific and as a guide, the window period for drug detection using a saliva or oral fluid drug testing kit are shorter than the comparable urine drug test. 

The length of time a drug can be detected on any drug test will vary from individula to individual, and will also depend on the drug test brand, the sensitivity of the drug test, as well as the format of the drug test kit being used.

The amount of time drugs stay in the body and can be detected on a drug test depends on many factors such as:

• The amount of the drug that has been taken
• The strength and purity of the drug taken
• The body weight of the person being drug tested
• The rate of metabolism of the individual being tested
• Whether the person being tested is a casual drug user or a long-term user.
• Cut-offs are brand specific and as a guide, the window period for drug detection using saliva or oral fluid drug test are shorter than the comparable urine test. 

Oral fluid saliva drug test kit detection times

Oral saliva drug test detection times tend to be shorter, when compared to the equivalent detection times in a urine drug test. This can be useful particularly for employers, as it is a good indication of whether an employee is 'under the influence of drugs at work' The dose of the drug taken has a significant effect on the clearance times. If you have a question about saliva drug test detection times, that is not answered here please contact our UK customer support team.

Saliva drug detection times & cut off levels for our drug tests

Drug Name	Abbrevaition	Detection Period	Detection level
Alcohol	ALC	Real time	0.02%BAC
Amphetamine	AMP	2-3 days	50ng/mL
Benzodiazepines	BZO	2-3 days	50ng/mL
Buprenorphine	BUP	2-3 days	10ng/mL
Cannabis (Marijuana, Weed)	THC	Up to14 hours ** 4-6 hours **	12ng/mL 50ng/mL
Cocaine	COC	1-2 days	20ng/mL
Cotinine	COT	1-2 days	20g/mL
Ecstasy	MDMA	2-3 days	50ng/mL
Fentanyl	FYL	48-72 hours	20ng/mL
Ketamine	KET	48-72 hours	50ng/mL
Methadone	MTD	8-12 hours	30ng/mL 35ng/mL
Methamphetamine	mAMP	2-3 days	50ng/mL
Opiates	OPI	7-21 hours	40ng/mL
Oxycodone	OXY	2-3 days	20ng/mL 50ng/mL
Phencyclidine	PCP	12-24 hours	10ng/mL
Synthetic Marijuana	K2/Spice	Up to 48 hours	25ng/mL
Tramadol	TML	Up to 48 hours	30ng/mL

 ** Depends on parent compound still being deposited in the oral cavity.

Fingerprint drug test detection times 

The window of detection for drugs and their metabolites on a fingerprint drug test, is shorter than on a urine or saliva drug test for most drugs, at up to 16 hours.

Hair drug test detection times

The detection window for drugs in hair can vary depending on several factors, including the type of drug, the individual's hair growth rate, the length of the hair sample, and the sensitivity of the testing method. Generally, drugs can be detected in hair for a longer period compared to other biological samples like urine, saliva or sweat. For most common drugs including Cannabis and Cocaine the detection period is around 90 days in hair.

It's important to note that hair drug tests are not necessarily indicative of current drug use but rather past use. The hair closest to the scalp represents the most recent drug use, so a longer hair sample will show a longer history of drug use. Additionally, hair tests are not always as sensitive as other types of drug tests, so they may not detect low-level or occasional drug use.

FAQ drug test detection times

How long does weed stay in system after quitting? 

The length of time cannabis (weed) stays in your system after quitting can vary depending on several factors, including frequency of use, method of consumption, metabolism, body fat percentage (THC is stored in body fat and then released slowly), and overall health. Here's a general guideline for how long THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis) can be detected in different parts of the body after quitting:

1. Urine: THC can typically be detected in a urine drug test for up to 30 days after last use for regular users. For infrequent users, it may be detectable in urine for just a couple of days. The new ultra sensitive lower detection level THC urine drug tests can now detect THC in the urine of some heavy frequent users of weed or Cannabis products for up to 60 days 
2. Blood: THC is usually detectable in blood for up to a week after last use. However, it can be detected for a longer period in heavy users.
3. Saliva: THC can be detected in saliva for up to 72 hours after last use, but just a few hours is more usual for most users.
4. Hair: THC can be detected in hair follicles for several months after last use, depending on the length of the hair, although this method is less commonly used in drug testing due to its expense.

It's important to note that these are rough estimates and individual factors can cause significant variations. Additionally, as said before the newer and more sensitive urine drug testing kits may be able to detect very low levels of THC for longer periods of time. 

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UK Drug Testing drug test detection times & detection levels page last updated 21/3/23