Researchers at the University of Zurich developed a new method to detect the presence of GHB, the “rape drug”, up to 72 hours after ingestion
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11/11/2026
by
Lusa
Iinvestigaters at the University of Zurich identified a new biomarker capable of detecting the presence in the urine of GHB, the “rape drug”, up to 72 hours after ingestion, significantly extending the period of detection of this substance.
“ The usual detection period is about six hours in the blood and 12 hours in the urine,” explains the investigation team at the University of Zurich Institute of Legal Medicine in a press release.
In 2021, the research team identified a new biomarker, a compound of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and sugar, called GHB-pentose.
“ Unlike GHB itself, this biomarker remains detectable in the urine for a longer period after ingestion,” says the press release.
In a study published on Tuesday, investigators analyzed 2,414 anonymized urine samples from real forensic cases collected between 2024 and 2026.
In these tests, 14 samples “have been shown to be particularly useful”, since “the measured GHB levels were below the established limit” for analysts, but “the GHB pentasis can still be detected”, investigators argue.
“ In eight of these 14 cases, the details in the archives corroborated the suspicion that GHB had previously been consumed or administered,” they explained, adding that this included “three alleged crimes — two robberies and an alleged violation — in which urine samples were collected only 13 to 16 hours later.”.
The study established that this biomarker may indicate the previous use of GHB even when the substance is no longer detectable by standard analytical methods.
The Swiss Ministry of Health explains in its internet portal that GHB was one of the “ideal candidates [for research] since its use is malicious”.
The substance is among those that are “virtually odorless”, “miscible in water” and “pass unnoticed in a drink”, with “a euphoric effect that manifests very quickly, after only 15 minutes, and evolves to a state of fatigue”.
Upon awakening, the victims usually do not remember what happened to them, says the ministry.