WADA / USADA Pharmacokinetic Model

Steroid Detection Time Calculator: PED Clearance Windows for Drug Tests

Calculate exact detection windows for anabolic steroids, SARMs, peptides, and PEDs in urine, blood, saliva, and hair follicle tests. Based on published WADA guidelines and peer-reviewed pharmacokinetic data.

Test Standard: WADA / USADA Anti-Doping

Compounds: Anabolics, SARMs, Peptides, Stimulants

Urine Window: Days to 18 Months

Detection Method: GC-MS / LC-MS/MS IRMS

Testosterone Enanthate

Oil-based injectable ester | Anabolic / Androgenic Steroid (AAS)

WADA PROHIBITED

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Still Detectable — Active Window

Based on your inputs, this compound is likely still detectable in the urine matrix. Enter your parameters and hit Calculate to receive a precise clearance estimate.

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Half-Life

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Urine Window

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Blood Window

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Days to Clear

Detection Window by Testing Matrix (relative to total window)

Blood / Serum—

Urine (Standard & WADA)—

Oral Fluid (Saliva)—

Hair Follicle (90-Day)—

Compound Pharmacokinetic Profile

Anti-Doping Research Note: Detection windows shown are based on published WADA technical documents, peer-reviewed pharmacokinetic studies, and clinical anti-doping literature. Actual detection varies based on individual metabolism, testing laboratory sensitivity, and specific IRMS/targeted analysis methods. WADA-certified laboratories use Carbon Isotope Ratio (CIR/IRMS) analysis which can distinguish synthetic testosterone from endogenous testosterone for extended periods beyond standard immunoassay cutoffs.

How the Steroid Detection Time Calculator Works

Ester Hydrolysis Kinetics

Propionate ester: ~0.8 day T1/2
Enanthate ester: ~4.5 day T1/2
Cypionate ester: ~8 day T1/2
Decanoate ester: ~15 day T1/2
Undecanoate (oral): ~21 day T1/2
Undecanoate (depot): ~34 day T1/2

Standard WADA Cutoffs

Testosterone (T/E Ratio): > 4:1 = Suspicious
Nandrolone (19-NA): > 2 ng/mL (men)
Stanozolol metabolite: > 0 ng/mL (any trace)
SARMs (GW1516 etc): > 0 (non-threshold)
EPO: Isoform separation assay
hGH: Biomarkers test, isoform

Detection Science

IRMS/CIR: Synthetic vs. endogenous
LC-MS/MS: Sub-pg/mL sensitivity
Long-term metabolites: 19-norandrosterone
Hydroxylation products: Stable, excreted slowly
Adipose storage: Extends fat-soluble PED windows
Glucuronide hydrolysis: Required for accurate urine detection

Steroid Detection Time Calculator: The Complete PED Clearance Guide

Whether you’re an athlete navigating competitive anti-doping programs, a fitness enthusiast undergoing pre-employment screening, or a medical professional managing TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) monitoring, knowing the precise detection window for any anabolic or performance-enhancing compound is critical.

Our steroid detection time calculator is built on published WADA Technical Documents, peer-reviewed pharmacokinetic data, and USADA anti-doping guidelines. It accounts for the unique elimination kinetics of 12 compounds — spanning injectable AAS esters, oral steroids, SARMs, and peptide hormones — and adjusts windows for single vs. cycle use, body composition, and WADA-specific IRMS (Carbon Isotope Ratio) analysis.

How Long Do Steroids Stay in Your System?

The detection window for anabolic steroids ranges from 24 hours (blood-only detectable HGH) to a staggering 18 months for chronic nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin) use. The massive range exists because:

Ester Depot Release Rate: Injectable steroids are bonded to carrier ester chains that slow-release the active hormone over days to weeks. Testosterone Enanthate has an effective half-life of ~4.5 days, while Testosterone Undecanoate depot injections have a half-life exceeding 34 days.
Metabolite Persistence: WADA-certified laboratories don’t just test for parent compounds — they target stable, long-term metabolites. For example, a single injection of nandrolone produces 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) metabolites that remain detectable for 12 to 18 months in some cases.
IRMS / CIR Testing: For testosterone specifically, WADA uses Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) to distinguish synthetic pharmaceutical testosterone from naturally occurring endogenous testosterone based on its carbon-13 isotopic signature. This extends detection far beyond standard immunoassay windows.
Lipophilicity & Fat Storage: Many anabolic steroids are highly lipid-soluble and accumulate in adipose tissue, slowly leaching back into circulation — particularly relevant for individuals with higher body fat percentages.

Steroid Detection Window by Compound (AAS, SARMs, Peptides)

The following detection windows are based on WADA Technical Documents and clinical pharmacokinetics research:

Compound	Type	Effective Half-Life	Urine Detection Window	Blood Window	Hair Window
Testosterone Enanthate	AAS Injectable	4.5 Days	3 Months (IRMS: 3+ Months)	14 Days	90 Days
Testosterone Cypionate	AAS Injectable	8 Days	3-4 Months (IRMS)	18 Days	90 Days
Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca)	AAS Injectable	15 Days	12-18 Months	30 Days	90 Days
Stanozolol (Winstrol)	AAS Oral	~9 Hours	2-3 Weeks	2 Days	90 Days
Oxandrolone (Anavar)	AAS Oral	~9 Hours	3-4 Weeks	3 Days	90 Days
Methandrostenolone (Dbol)	AAS Oral	~3-6 Hours	5-6 Weeks (metabolites)	3 Days	90 Days
Trenbolone Acetate	AAS Injectable	3 Days	4-5 Months	8 Days	90 Days
Ostarine (MK-2866)	SARM	~24 Hours	2 Weeks	2 Days	90 Days
RAD-140 (Testolone)	SARM	~60 Hours	3 Weeks	4 Days	90 Days
LGD-4033 (Ligandrol)	SARM	~30 Hours	3-4 Weeks	4 Days	90 Days
Human Growth Hormone	Peptide	~4 Hours	Not Detectable in Urine	24-36 Hours	N/A
EPO (Erythropoietin)	Peptide	~28 Hours	2-3 Days	3 Days	N/A

WADA Note: For testosterone-based compounds, values shown reflect IRMS-enhanced detection using Carbon Isotope Ratio testing, which distinguishes synthetic exogenous testosterone from naturally produced endogenous testosterone regardless of T/E ratio normalization.

How Does WADA Test for Steroids?

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) employs a multi-layer, layered detection protocol far more sophisticated than standard workplace drug testing:

1. Initial Screening: Immunoassay & GC-MS

Urine samples first undergo broad-spectrum immunoassay screening targeting intact androgens and metabolites. Presumptive positives advance to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for compound-specific confirmatory analysis.

2. IRMS / Carbon Isotope Ratio (CIR) Analysis

For endogenous androgens like testosterone, androstenedione, and nandrolone — where natural production clouds synthetic detection — WADA employs Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS):

Naturally occurring testosterone is slightly richer in carbon-13 ( $^{13}$ 13C) because it derives from plant-based cholesterol synthesized in your body.
Pharmaceutical testosterone synthesized from soy or yam sterols has a slightly different $\delta^{13}$ δ13C value.
WADA-certified laboratories measure this isotopic difference at sub-parts-per-thousand precision.
This method allows detection of exogenous testosterone even when T/E ratios appear normal.

3. The Athlete Biological Passport (ABP)

Rather than catching single positive tests, WADA’s Biological Passport longitudinally tracks each athlete’s hormonal and hematological parameters. Unusual deviations from a personal baseline — even without a direct positive — constitute an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).

Does Testosterone Show Up on a Standard Workplace Drug Test?

Testosterone does NOT appear on standard 5-panel or 10-panel SAMHSA workplace drug tests, which screen for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP.

Testosterone is only detected if:

A WADA or USADA anti-doping test is ordered (athletic competition).
A specialized hormone panel or testosterone blood test is specifically requested by a physician or lab.
An expanded custom drug panel (unusual in employment settings) is ordered.

Standard workplace urine tests do not have the sensitivity to detect anabolic steroid metabolites and do not target the T/E ratio.

How Long Does Nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin) Stay in Your Urine?

Nandrolone decanoate has the longest urine detection window of any commonly used injectable anabolic steroid. Its primary urinary metabolite, 19-norandrosterone (19-NA), is excreted for an extraordinary duration:

Single Injection: Detection in urine for approximately 12 months.
Chronic/Repeated Use: WADA has documented 19-NA excretion for up to 18 months post-last-dose in long-term users.
WADA Cutoff: > 2 ng/mL in male athletes (zero-threshold for women and adolescents).

The extreme persistence of 19-NA results from its gradual release from deep intramuscular depot sites and secondary metabolism from adrenal norandrogen precursors.

Can SARMs Be Detected on a Drug Test?

SARMs are detectable in urine and blood by specialized WADA-certified laboratories using LC-MS/MS targeted assays.

Key points about SARM detection:

Standard workplace drug tests: SARMs do NOT appear on any standard 5-panel, 10-panel, or 12-panel workplace urine screen.
WADA / Anti-Doping Tests: WADA and USADA have specific, highly sensitive targeted analytical methods for SARMs including Ostarine (MK-2866), LGD-4033, RAD-140, GW-501516, and others.
Non-Threshold Status: SARMs are classified as “non-threshold” substances under WADA rules — any detectable amount constitutes a violation, regardless of concentration.
Typical Urine Windows: 2 to 4 weeks for most common SARMs.
Long-Term Metabolites: Some SARM metabolites (particularly phase II glucuronides) are detected for longer periods than parent compounds.

Scientific Studies & Clinical References

The detection window data in our steroid detection time calculator is derived from published anti-doping research:

Thevis M. & Schanzer W. (2010) — Mass spectrometric identification and characterization of designer steroids in doping control analysis. Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 45(8), 899-908. PubMed PMID: 20824664.
WADA Technical Document TD2024DL — Decision Limits for the Confirmatory Identification of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids. WADA-AMA.org.
Ayotte C. (2006) — Significance of 19-norandrosterone in athletes’ urine samples. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 40(Suppl 1), i25-i29.
USADA Anti-Doping Testing — Overview of WADA-prohibited substances, testing matrices, and detection science. USADA.org.

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Medical, Legal & Anti-Doping Disclaimer

The steroid detection time calculator and all content on this page are provided strictly for educational and informational purposes. Detection windows represent research-based estimates and may differ from actual laboratory results based on individual metabolism, testing laboratory sensitivity, specific IRMS assay versions, and lot-specific reagent performance. This tool does not constitute legal or medical advice. Athletes subject to anti-doping obligations should consult their national anti-doping organization (NADO) or a certified anti-doping specialist regarding substance use.