Time of coverage of urine drug tests
It is the time that a test for a psychotropic substance can remain positive after the last episode of consumption.
A positive result means that at the time of examination the substance was in urine or some of its metabolites. The clinical significance of this result indicates that the person has consumed the substance at some time during the coverage of the test. Each substance has a different length of coverage.
For example, cocaine has a length of coverage from 4 to 7 days. This means that if a person obtains a positive result in urine sample for cocaine, that means you have used at least once during the last week.
Time is not synonymous with the effect of the substance on the brain than the length of coverage for the detection of metabolites in urine. The former tends to be shorter than the second.
For this reason a person can be completely free from effects of the substance and still make a positive screening test.
Below is a list of coverage times for each drug:
- cocaine (4 to 7 days)
- amphetamines and ecstasy (48 hours)
- Marijuana (21 to 30 days)
- benzodiazepines (3 days)
- barbiturates (24 to 48 hours)
- alcohol (12 to 24 hours)
- morphine (6 to 48 hours)
- methadone (3 days)
These times may vary according to renal function and hydration and physical activity of the person, but did not vary substantially beyond the range offered. If repeated tests are done to a person who has tested positive, before the time period, coverage may be obtained a profile of detoxification of the metabolites corresponding to that case.
