Urine testing is one of the most common methods for detecting cocaine in the human body. It’s also an important step for a variety of things such as those undergoing job interviews or random testing as part of a parole agreement. So you may be wondering, how long does cocaine stay in urine? Read more to find out the answer, as well as other critical information about understanding how urine is detected in cocaine.
What Is Cocaine and What Are Its Effects?
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that is derived from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine produces intense euphoria, increased energy, and heightened alertness. Cocaine causes these effects by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as dopamine in the brain. The effects of cocaine are very short-lasting, leading to rapid, repeated use.
How the Body Processes and Eliminates Cocaine
The body rapidly processes, or metabolizes, cocaine shortly after it is consumed into various water-soluble metabolites, the primary one being benzoylecgonine. The kidneys filter these metabolites from the blood stream and then excrete them through urine. The body is so efficient at processing cocaine that its half-life (the time it takes for half of a chemical to disappear) is only around one to two hours. However, benzolyecgonine can remain detectable in urine for longer.
Factors Influencing Cocaine Detection in Urine
A large number of factors influence how long cocaine can be detected in urine. Some of the most important and influential include:
- The frequency of cocaine use
- The individual’s metabolism
- Hydration levels
- The individual’s medical health
- The sensitivity of the test
- The cutoff concentration chosen by the testing facility
Detection Time of Cocaine in Urine
Because a number of factors influence how long cocaine is detectable in the urine, the exact amount of time it can be found in urine will vary significantly from one person or drug test to another. However, the average amount of time that cocaine or its byproduct is detectable in urine is two to four days after use.
The factors previously mentioned will affect the detection times. However, the only way to ensure that you will receive a negative result on a cocaine urine test is to stop using the drug.
Different Types of Urine Drug Tests for Cocaine
There are two primary types of drug tests for cocaine, immunoassay tests and confirmatory tests. Immunoassay tests are used as a preliminary test, and confirmatory tests are used to confirm the preliminary results if necessary.
Immunoassay tests use antibodies that are designed to bond specifically with cocaine’s metabolites. When a sample is introduced to the test, the color will change (or some other signal is given) if the drug’s metabolites are present. Confirmatory tests use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
Immunoassay tests are quite sensitive and generally very accurate, especially when providing negative results. However, they may provide false positives (and more rarely false negatives) due to cross-reactivity with certain substances. Confirmatory tests are both highly accurate and highly specific and have a significantly lower likelihood of providing false results. With either type of test, the sensitivity is largely determined by the cutoff concentration chosen by the testing facility.
If a cocaine urine test displays a negative result, it means that the concentration of metabolites is below the cutoff concentration. Positive results indicate levels that are above the cutoff, which may trigger the need for confirmatory testing.
Tips to Successfully Pass a Urine Drug Test for Cocaine
The consequences of a positive urine test for cocaine can be severe, and could negatively affect your life. Luckily, there are several ways in which you can make a negative result more likely.
- Abstinence – Not taking cocaine is the only way to guarantee a negative test.
- Hydration – Staying well hydrated while trying to detox from cocaine will help your body eliminate the metabolites faster.
- A healthy lifestyle – Overall health reduces cocaine metabolism times, and a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise and a balanced diet full of nutrients and antioxidants help the body detoxify itself.
Some people have found hydration to help lessen the amount of time cocaine stays in their system, but you may be wondering just how long cocaine stays in urine if the person is properly hydrated? Not much less time in most cases, but like with most things, being hydrated will help your body process the drug.
There are serious consequences of a positive test on a drug test. Drug tests typically occur for people who are either being hired or already hired in a position and testing positive for drugs could cause job loss or loss of benefits. The other situations will likely be around those who are being arrested for a crime, in which case a positive test can mean additional or more severe offenses. If someone is already on parole or living in a sober living home, then a positive test could mean going back to jail to serve out the rest of your sentence or being kicked out of a sober program or home and dealing with homelessness.
Staying off cocaine can be difficult, but we’re here to help. Whether searching for yourself or a loved one, we can help. Reach out to us for more information on cocaine treatment near you.
