{
  "id": 19628857,
  "title": "New way of detecting date-rape drug use found in Switzerland",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/new-way-of-detecting-date-rape-drug-use-found-in-switzerland",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-12T09:20:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-11-date-rape-drug-switzerland.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Swiss researchers have developed a new method to detect the date-rape drug GHB in urine samples for up to 72 hours after ingestion, potentially improving the investigation of sexual assaults. The University of Zurich announced that this biomarker, GHB-pentose, could indicate earlier GHB intake even when the drug is no longer detectable using conventional methods. Conventional tests typically detect GHB in blood and urine for 6-12 hours, but GHB-pentose remains traceable in urine for longer periods. In a study analyzing 2,414 forensic urine samples from 2024, the researchers found that GHB-pentose was detectable for up to three days, even when GHB levels were below the test threshold. In eight out of 14 cases, the presence of GHB-pentose supported suspicions of prior GHB consumption or administration, including three suspected criminal offenses—two robberies and one alleged sexual assault. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Drug Testing and Analysis, highlights the potential of GHB-pentose as a novel biomarker for detecting GHB intake and administration beyond the usual 12-hour detection window. However, the researchers caution that further evaluation is needed to determine the method's diagnostic reliability and maximum detection period in individual cases.",
  "summary": "Swiss researchers have found a new way of detecting the notorious date-rape drug GHB in urine for up to 72 hours after ingestion, in a possible boon to sexual assault investigations.",
  "key_points": [
    "Swiss researchers develop method to detect GHB in urine for up to 72 hours.",
    "GHB-pentose biomarker remains traceable in urine beyond conventional detection window.",
    "GHB-pentose supported suspicions in 3 criminal offense cases in study."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Extending the forensic detection window for GHB provides investigators with a more substantial timeframe to gather biological evidence in cases involving suspected drug-facilitated crimes.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}