Method detects "date-rape drug" up to 72 hours after ingestion

Researchers from the University of Zurich have discovered a new biomarker that can detect GHB, known as the 'date rape drug', in urine up to 72 hours after ingestion. This significantly extends the detection window compared to the usual six hours in blood and twelve hours in urine. The biomarker, GHB-pentose, remains detectable longer than GHB itself. In a study analyzing 2,414 anonymized urine samples from real forensic cases, 14 samples were particularly useful as they showed GHB levels below the detection limit, yet GHB-pentose was still identifiable. This finding could help indicate prior GHB use in cases where standard analytical methods fail to detect the substance.