Alcohol & Other Drugs: Testing & Metabolism

Q: How is Ketamine detected in the body and how long does it stay in the system??

A: Ketamine, or ketamine hydrochloride, is a fast-acting disassociative anesthetic used on both animals and humans. Currently, it is being abused by an increasing number of young people as a "club drug," and is often distributed at "raves" and parties.

The presence of a drug in the body is done through identification of the breakdown products of the drug, referred to as metabolites. These metabolites are typically detected through urine or blood analysis-- Ketamine is eliminated approximately 12 hours after dosing. --Spot (July 31, 2003)