Drug and alcohol detection window estimator
In short
How long does a substance show up on a test? Pick a substance and a test type to see the typical range published in medical research, with its source. These are estimates only: many factors change real results, and no tool can predict yours.
Talk to a real person today. Call (888) 305-5422. Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Testing by appointment.
How to use this tool
- Choose the substance you have a question about.
- Choose the test type: urine, saliva (oral fluid) or breath.
- Read the typical range and the source listed under it.
- Have a test coming up? Call us and a monitoring coordinator will explain which test fits your situation.
Nothing you pick is saved or sent. The tool runs only in your browser.
Estimator
Detection window estimator
Pick a substance and a test type to see the typical range published in medical research. Nothing you choose is saved or sent anywhere.
All published ranges in one table
| Substance | Urine | Saliva (oral fluid) |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | EtG test: up to about 5 days at a 500 ng/mL cutoff | No figure in our sources |
| Amphetamines and methamphetamine | 1 to 2 days | About 2 days (amphetamine), about 3 days (methamphetamine) |
| Benzodiazepines | 1 to 3 days; up to about 6 weeks with heavy use of long acting types | No figure in our sources |
| Cannabis (THC) | 1 to 3 days with infrequent use; up to about 30 days with chronic use | About 6 to 30 hours or more after smoking |
| Cocaine | 2 to 4 days; about 10 to 22 days with heavy use | About 4 to 12.5 hours |
| Heroin, morphine or codeine | 1 to 2 days | No figure in our sources |
| Oxycodone | 1 to 1.5 days | About 12 to 32 hours |
| Hydrocodone | About 2 days | About 7 to 28 hours |
| Methadone | 2 to 11 days | No figure in our sources |
| Buprenorphine | 3 to 4 days | No figure in our sources |
| PCP | About 8 days | No figure in our sources |
Urine drug ranges: Moeller and colleagues, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2017. Saliva ranges are median times of last detection in a controlled dosing study: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2019. EtG: Mayo Clinic Laboratories. A breath test shows alcohol in the body at the time of the test only.
Why the ranges are so wide
SAMHSA calls detection windows very broad estimates that depend on the substance, the amount, how often it is used, and other factors. In its guide for clinicians, urine detection times run from less than a day to several weeks (SAMHSA TAP 32).
- Pattern of use. One use and daily use look very different, especially for cannabis and long acting benzodiazepines.
- The test and its cutoff. Each test reads at a set level. A lower cutoff can pick up smaller amounts for longer.
- The person. Body size, hydration, metabolism and kidney and liver function all play a part.
A positive result shows that a substance or its breakdown product was present. It does not show impairment (AAA Foundation), and testing alone does not diagnose a substance use disorder (NIDA).
How we handle results
Our instant tests are screens. Any positive screen can be sent to a partner laboratory for confirmation, so one cup is never the final word. Read more about how positive results are confirmed, what our 12 panel urine drug test screens for, and when a saliva test or an EtG alcohol test fits better.
Taking a prescribed medicine? Use our medication disclosure checklist before your test. If substance use is becoming a risk to your safety, call 911 in an emergency, or call or text 988 for a mental health or suicide crisis.
Common questions
Can this tool tell me when I will test negative?
No. It shows typical ranges from published research. Real results depend on many factors, including how much and how often a substance was used, the test, its cutoff and the person. It cannot predict any one result.
Why is the cannabis range so much wider than the others?
Because the pattern of use matters so much. Published urine ranges run about 1 to 3 days after infrequent use and up to about 30 days with chronic use.
Why does the estimator list alcohol under urine?
Because that figure is for an EtG urine test, not a drug panel. Our 12 panel cup screens for common drugs. For alcohol we use a breathalyzer, which shows alcohol in the body right now, or an EtG urine test, which looks back over recent days.
Where do these numbers come from?
Urine drug ranges come from a 2017 Mayo Clinic Proceedings review, saliva ranges from a 2019 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study, and the EtG range from Mayo Clinic Laboratories. Each result in the tool links to its source.
Talk to a real person today. Call (888) 305-5422. Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Testing by appointment.
Not ready to call? Request a callback.