5 Interesting Facts About Drug Test Detection Times

As most people know, drug tests don't check for every illegal substance someone has used in their entire life. There's a timeframe that every drug test adheres to known as the drug detection window. However, this timeframe varies between test kits. For example, urine drug tests don't detect drug use as far back as hair drug tests. Furthermore, not every test kit can detect all illegal substances.

So, whether you're an employer planning a pre-employment drug test for a job candidate or a person just looking to stay on the straight and narrow, you'll want to know the facts about how long drug use shows up in your system. Today, we'll explore five surprising facts about drug detection windows.

Drug detection times vary between different illicit drugs.

Not only do drug detection times vary between drug tests, but they also vary between drug use. We'll look at a few of the various controlled substances that vary the most in detection times. For example, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy, is one of the most commonly checked illegal substances by five-panel drug tests and has varying detection times. Urine tests can detect MDMA for roughly two to four days after the last dose, while a saliva test can find MDMA only between two and ten hours following the previous substance use. Blood drug tests can detect MDMA for about one to two days. Finally, hair follicle drug tests can detect MDMA for up to 90 days.

Opiates are another of the controlled substance that vary. For example, heroin has a short detection time. A saliva test can only detect heroin in the first five hours following the last dose, while blood tests can see it for roughly six hours. Urine tests, the most common drug test kit, can detect heroin for only seven days after the last dose. And finally, hair follicle drug tests can find heroin use for up to 90 days following the last usage.

Methamphetamine presents a different scenario with drug use detection times. Methamphetamine metabolizes to amphetamine, which means a drug test will typically produce a positive test result for both illegal substances. Regarding methamphetamine, hair drug tests and urine drug tests still have the highest detection times. A urine test can detect methamphetamine for up to seven days after the last use, while a hair drug test can detect it for 90 days. With saliva tests, meth can be found within four days of the previous dose. Finally, blood drug tests can discover meth up to three days following the last usage.

Blood drug tests have the shortest and fastest detection window.

Though blood drug tests are the most accurate drug testing method, as they cannot be tampered with during a medical blood draw, they have the shortest detection window. Despite this short timeframe, they can check for drug use sooner than all other drug testing kits. Blood tests can usually detect substance use within minutes to hours of the last dose, depending on the illegal substance and how much was ingested. However, blood tests can only detect these illicit drugs for several days. In most cases, blood testing is only used when someone is suspected of being under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.

Marijuana has the longest drug test detection window.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid in marijuana responsible for causing psychoactive effects. THC has the longest-lasting detection times as it's primarily stored in fat cells that release the detectable compounds slowly. So, if you're a regular marijuana consumer and have some excess body fat, THC can remain detectable for as long as 90 days in several drug tests.

However, people who only occasionally use THC, are physically fit, and drink enough water can show a negative test result in as little as a week. So, the detection window for THC can vary based on lifestyles, body weight, and frequency of substance use.

Hair drug tests have the longest detection time because toxins are stored in hair follicles.

You already know hair drug tests have the longest detection times. However, you may not know why. These extended time frames are because of how toxins hide within the hair. Unlike urine or blood, drug toxins that enter hair follicles aren't expelled or metabolized. Instead, they make their way into the hair follicle's inner cortex. This inner cortex is protected by the hair's outer cuticle and natural oils. As a result, the toxins from drug use must grow out of the hair.

Therefore, drug testers can determine when the drug use occurred based on where it's at in the hair follicle. For example, drug use occurred recently if the drug toxins are in the hair's root. If the toxins are near the end of the hair strand, substance use occurred months ago.

Hair drug tests detection windows vary between hair sources.

If you didn't know, hair follicle drug tests can test hair from the head or body. In addition, the detection window changes depending on head hair or body hair. For example, head hair detection windows are typically about 90 days of substance use. On the other hand, body hair detection windows can be as long as a year, depending on the individual's substance use frequency.

A lot can affect drug detection windows.

Countless factors influence drug detection windows, including drug tests, drug type, test source, and more.