Does LSD come up on a drug test?

Does LSD come up on a drug test? How long does LSD stay in your body? These are all relevant questions for someone interested in LSD but has to take a drug test for work or school. Fortunately, unlike more common substances like cannabis, LSD won’t stay in your system for months. It also isn’t included in standard 12-panel drug testing kits.

But what about saliva swabs? Blood tests? Hair samples? What kinds of drug tests does LSD show up on? And how long does LSD stay in your body? But first, what is LSD?

LSD: A Primer

LSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide. Also known as acid, it is a substance that is illegal in most parts of the world. When taken, it can alter your perceptions for several hours. Although non-addictive, it remains illegal and classified as having no accepted medical use. That is not to say medical discoveries aren’t being made, especially in psychology and well-being.

In popular culture, one typically consumes LSD via a blotter (a paper square) that you place under your tongue. However, dropper bottles and sprays are the most effective methods of ingestion, especially if one wants a specific dosage. And beyond LSD, there are other lysergamides on the market for research purposes.

brain on lsd

In addition to sensory and mood enhancements, LSD can also cause hallucinations, dry mouth, increased heart rate, loss of appetite, and in some users, sweating and nausea.

In small doses, LSD’s effects are barely noticeable. Known as microdosing, many prefer this option for the cognitive benefits. LSD produces a “trip” in larger doses, which can be a positive or negative experience based on one’s subjective feelings toward the process.

How Long Does LSD Stay in Your Body?

Once you take LSD, you can feel the effects within twenty to ninety minutes. The experience peaks at around two and four hours, diminishing after six and eight. However, sometimes the product can last up to 12 hours. The substance is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes if orally ingested. When LSD reaches the bloodstream, the liver will then process it.

Within 24 hours, LSD has been metabolized and excreted from the body. LSD has a short half-life, which is the time it takes for the substance’s concentration in the body to decrease by one-half. Age, metabolism, and diet can affect how long LSD remains in the body.

Drug tests have revealed LSD use as many as five days after consumption.

How Do Drug Tests Work?

There are three types of drug tests: immunoassay, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Immunoassay works by using antibodies to detect a corresponding molecule bit. Called an analyte, this molecule bit will form enzymes and change colour if the drug is present. Similar to how home pregnancy tests work.

Immunoassay tests have different “cut-off” points and are liable to false positives. Therefore, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS, which require sending a biological sample to a lab, are often preferred methods. Better at detecting key metabolites, the latter two procedures come after the initial immunoassay test. If an immunoassay test comes back negative, a GC-MS or LC-MS/MS is unnecessary.

What Kind of Drug Tests Does LSD Come Up On?

drug tests samples

Because LSD breaks down quickly, researchers have had trouble pinning down reliable detection methods. Some tests are better than others. The short half-life of LSD means 50 percent of the substance expels from the body within the first five hours after consumption. That said, there are ways to detect LSD.

Urine

Urine tests are the most common drug screening tests. This method can detect LSD within eight hours and up to five days after use. A small portion of LSD is metabolized as 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD (O-H-LSD). Research suggests this byproduct is present in urine samples at concentration levels much higher than LSD. In some cases, up to 40 times higher.

Fortunately, most urine kits are 12-panel drug tests. The number of panels on a drug test refers to the number of drugs the test can detect. Standard 12-panels will look for drugs like amphetamines, benzos, cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis, oxycodone and others. LSD is typically not included in a standard 12-panel test kit but always double-check.

Blood

Blood tests are generally the most accurate type of drugs tests available. LSD can remain in the blood for up to 16 hours. However, after the 8-hour mark, researchers have found their ability to detect the substance drops considerably.

Hair

Tests can detect LSD metabolites in the hair. But these tests are often costly and not always reliable. Researchers identified LSD in only two of the 17 self-reported LSD users in a Journal of Analytical Toxicology report. However, LSD metabolites can take up to 90 days to dissipate when present in hair.

Saliva

There is very little published research on saliva drug tests for LSD. Although not very accurate and subject to contamination, saliva tests can detect LSD up to 12 hours after consumption.

Spinal Cord

There is no such thing as a spinal cord drug screening test. The myth that LSD stays in your spine forever is just that – a myth. A 1989 study found no evidence that the spinal cord stores LSD indefinitely.

Factors That Influence LSD Detection

Personal factors can influence how long LSD stays in your body. These factors can also affect if LSD comes up on a drug test.

Age

Younger adults generally have a faster metabolism than older adults. Therefore, young people process LSD more quickly than seniors do.

Food

If you take LSD with food, the body may take longer to break down the substance. But if taken on an empty stomach, users will feel its effects faster, and the body will expel the substance quicker.

Weight & Height

Weight and height affect how the body absorbs LSD. A tall or heavy person will break down LSD quicker than someone short or thin.

Overall Health

Since the liver plays a vital role in the metabolism of LSD, the substance may be detectable longer for those with impaired liver functions, say, for example, fatty liver disease. A slower metabolism will process the drug much more slowly than someone with a faster metabolism.

Other Drugs

Some medications can cause false-positive results on urine tests. These medications include (but are not limited to) Ambroxol, Fentanyl, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Ritalin and Zoloft.

Passing a Drug Test with LSD in your System

The easiest way to ensure LSD does not come up on a drug test is not to take any LSD at all. Of course, if this is not an option for you, discontinue use at least 24 hours before the drug test. A blood test is unlikely to show a positive for LSD 24 hours after you’ve last taken it.

Physical activity like exercise accelerates your metabolism, which can help flush the substance of your system. Additionally, staying hydrated will impact how quickly your body metabolizes LSD. Interestingly enough, tobacco use can speed up the elimination process.

In summary, LSD does come up on a drug test. But unlike other substances, like cannabis, LSD won’t stay in your body for weeks or months. Many drug testing methods won’t find evidence of LSD after 24 hours. Most drug test kits won’t even check for LSD.

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