Substance · dissociative
PCP (phencyclidine)
Phencyclidine is a dissociative anesthetic and one of the original federal "SAMHSA-5" analytes. Modern programs continue to include it under DOT and federal guidelines despite low population prevalence.
Last updated:What is PCP (phencyclidine)?
PCP is a dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. Detection windows are highly user- and dose-dependent and can be unusually long in chronic users due to fat solubility.
Panels that include PCP (phencyclidine)
What drug tests detect
Drug tests for PCP (phencyclidine) typically target the following analytes / metabolites:
- PCP (parent compound, primarily)
Confirmation testing uses GC-MS or LC-MS/MS.
Detection windows
| Specimen | Window | Pattern | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | 4–7 days | occasional | Detection longer in chronic users due to lipid storage. |
| 14–30 days | chronic | Chronic users may show detectable urine PCP for weeks. | |
| Saliva | 1–72 hours | typical | Oral fluid window longer than for many drugs of abuse. |
| Blood | 1–24 hours | typical | Plasma detection short. |
| Hair | 7–90 days | typical | ~7–10 day incorporation delay. |
Ranges are approximate and vary by individual physiology, hydration, dose, frequency of use, and lab cutoff. They are not predictive of whether someone will "pass" a test.
Cross-reactivity and MRO interpretation
The following can affect initial immunoassay screening and are normally resolved by mass-spectrometry confirmation and MRO review. None of these are a reason to draw conclusions from a single screening result.
- Dextromethorphan (high dose, rare)
- Tramadol (rare)
- Ketamine (low cross-reactivity)
Sources & references
drugtest.co content is sourced from primary regulatory and clinical references. We do not cite gray-market or "how to pass" sources.