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PCP (phencyclidine) is a potent hallucinogen known for its long-lasting effects on the body, even after its immediate high wears off.. But how long does PCP take on your system? This depends on several factors, including the dose, the route, and the metabolism in your body.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) data has shown that there are more than 37,000 emergency department visits involving PCP within a year. Under this severe influence, it is critical to know such details as its detection time, half-life, and the way it appears in a drug test.
So in this blog, we will learn the way PCP is distributed in the body, how it is detected in various tests (urine, blood, hair), and what factors influence the length of its existence.
How Long Does PCP Stay in Your System?
The answer to the question of how long PCP stays in your system is not universal. The elimination process is long and erratic. It can persist in the body up to days or even months after usage, depending on the quantity used and its frequency, as well as the body’s specifications.
One major reason it stays in the body so long is because it is fat-soluble. This implies that it accumulates in fat cells and is released gradually into the bloodstream over a period, thereby increasing the half-life and detection period. Although the effects of the drug can endure about 4 to 6 hours, the PCP metabolites can remain in your system long after the high is gone.
PCP Detection Time
The detection time depends on the kind of drug test. Certain tests, such as urine tests, may be able to identify it a few days after, whereas hair tests may reveal some signs of use after months. And in case you are being contracted for a drug test, these are the times the substance may be detected:
| Test Type | Detection Window | Notes |
| Urine Test | 4 – 7 days (single use), up to 30 days (chronic use) | Most common test type – detects PCP metabolites |
| Blood Test | 1 – 3 days | Shorter window; often used in emergencies |
| Hair Test | Up to 90 days | Longest detection time – shows past drug history |
| Saliva Test | 1 – 10 days | Less common; still in use in some settings |
PCP Half-Life and Its Impact on Detection
The length of time that PCP remains in your system depends on understanding its half-life. The half-life of a drug is the duration during which the drug takes to have half of its quantity cleared in the body. In the case of PCP, this half-life varies between 7 and 46 hours, and in other instances, it may be more depending on the user’s health and metabolism as well as how regularly the individual is using the drug.
It is fat-soluble and, as a result, remains in the fatty tissue of the body where it is released into the body system gradually. This prolonged release also gives the drug an extended duration, with a week or even weeks in case of chronic users in the system, and hence it becomes easy to identify even after a drug test.
The rate at which this is removed is slow, and this affects its appearance in various tests and how it does so. The following is what you should know:
PCP Drug Test Overview
Various drug testing methods allow for its detection. All these tests differ in their ability to detect the drug’s traces and usefulness. Different ones are more likely to show that one has been using the drug within a very short time, and others can reveal when its effects have disappeared.
Some of the standard Drug tests consist of:
| Test Type | Purpose |
| Urine Test | Most common and widely used for routine screening |
| Blood Test | Used in emergencies or when recent use is suspected |
| Hair Test | Can detect long-term use, even months later |
| Saliva Test | Less common, with a moderate detection window |
PCP Urine Test: What to Know
The most commonly used method is the PCP urine test, as it is easy, inexpensive, and has a broad detection window.
- Detects it usually 4 – 7 days after a single use
- In heavy or long-term users, it can be detected up to 30 days
- Targets PCP metabolites, which linger in the system longer than the drug itself
- Often used in workplace testing, rehab facilities, and routine screenings
PCP Blood Test: Key Information
PCP blood tests are not that common, but it is highly effective when finding recent usage. This is what you must know about blood testing:
- Typically detects PCP within 1 to 3 days after use
- Useful in emergency rooms or accidents to assess intoxication
- Shows actual active levels in the bloodstream
- Offers a short but accurate detection window
PCP Hair Test: Extended Detection
Hair tests have by far the most expansive detection window when it comes to long-term or repeated use. Since PCP and its metabolites become incorporated into the hair strands as they grow, the method can particularly be used to monitor the pattern of usage over time, not to detect the current use.
It does not provide fast outcomes; nevertheless, it is very valuable in some cases when it is necessary to track drug use patterns for a long period of time. That is what is special about the PCP hair test:
- Can detect phencyclidine for up to 90 days after last use
- Not helpful for recent exposure (there’s a delay in the drug appearing in hair)
- Useful in legal cases or rehab programs, looking for patterns of use
- Often paired with other test types for confirmation
PCP Metabolites: The Breakdown Process
After phencyclidine gets to the body, it does not take long before it no longer remains in its initial stage. The liver metabolizes it into metabolites: organic chemical substances that cease to have a psychoactive effect but may be left in the body. Most drug tests detect these PCP metabolites, particularly in urine and hair.
That is how it is done:
- The liver processes it into inactive metabolites
- These byproducts can remain in the body long after its effects wear off
- Metabolites get stored in fat, are excreted in urine, and bind to hair strands
- Their presence can extend detection time in tests
PCP Elimination Duration at Tennessee Behavioral Health
The duration phencyclidine remains in your body is dependent on numerous variables- the amount and frequency of usage and how your body metabolizes it. This is because it is retained in the body fats and released gradually, hence it may be in the system taking days or even weeks. This is the reason why it is so important to know how long phencyclidine stays in certain urine, blood, or hair tests, its half-life, and when it can be detected.
Whether you or someone you know is in the situation of abusing PCP or other drugs, you are not alone. At Tennessee Behavioral Health, we support people with evidence-based and loving care that will assist individuals in reclaiming control and finding the balance.
FAQs
What is the typical detection time for PCP in drug tests?
PCP can typically be detected in urine in 4-7 days and 30 days in severe users. In general, it can be detected in a blood test 1 to 3 days after, and in a hair test up to 90 days.
How does the half-life of PCP affect its detection in the system?
Its half-life could be between 7 and 46 hours, implying that the drug remains longer in the body than most other drugs. It is fat-soluble, which means it can accumulate and slowly be released in the fat tissues and then slowly leak out, increasing the detection period.
What should you know about the PCP urine test and its detection capabilities?
The most common test is urine test. It identifies PCP metabolites, and it works well to determine recent and prolonged use, particularly chronic exposures.
How reliable is the PCP blood test in determining recent use?
A PCP blood screen is highly sensitive in predicting a recent intake, normally in a time scale of 1-3 days. It is frequently applied to critical incidents or law cases when intoxication during the last hours has to be verified.
How long can PCP be detected in a hair test compared to other methods?
As opposed to urine or blood tests, a hair test can identify a PCP use even up to 90 days. This is convenient when monitoring chronic or habitual exposure to the drug, but poor when it comes to determining last-minute exposure.
