The kidneys are part of the main organs of detoxification of the body: they filter impurities from the blood which are then excreted in the urine. Impurities found in these residues of alcohol and drugs allow detecting the consumption of these substances in urine.
You can see approximate time of detection limit of the various substances according to frequency of use in the following table.
Detection Time
Time limit of detection substances
Amphetamine - 1-3 Days
THC consumption only: occasional 2-3 days consumption: 2-4 days consumption moderate chronic days consumption 5-14: 2-6 Weeks
Opiates Heroin: strong dependence of the dose. 48-96 hours 6-MAM: Some hours Morphine: 24-48 hours codeine: 48-72 hours
Cocaine Benzoylecgonine: depending on the dose days methylecgonine 2-3: up to 2 days Cocaine: depending on the dose up to 12 hours
Ethyglucuronide Depending on the dose 1-3 days
Test Methods
Testing drugs and alcohol in urine analysis are performed by immunoassay and by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC / MS).
Immunoassay urine screening
Immunoenzymatic techniques allow a rapid and inexpensive detection of drugs and alcohol in the urine. The excellent sensitivity of these tests provide accurate results for a more detailed analysis of the presence of substances in urine, analysis by GC / MS should be performed.
Concentration in the samples more than the following thresholds causes a positive result
Cut-off parameter ng / ml
Amphetamine 500
Benzodiazepines 200
Cannabinoids 50
300 cocaine
Opiates 300
Methadone Metabolite-100
Barbiturates 300
Buprenorphine 5
GC / MS analysis
The gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is a very expensive and therefore more expensive than the analyzes.
The urine sample by gas chromatography (GC) is vaporized and separated into different chemical compounds. A detector, mass spectrometer (MS) measures the charge time and the amount of substances they represent on a graph. The GC / MS not only allows quantitative detection of foreign substances in the urine but also an accurate differentiation. In addition, the GC / MS can also detect biogenic drugs and LSD.
Concentration in the samples more than the following thresholds causes a positive result
Cut-off parameters ng / ml
Amphetamine 50
Benzodiazepines 50
Cannabinoids 10
Cocaine 30
Opiates 25
Methadone 50