In this paper, we provide a graph-based characterization of the set of inde
composable sequences that are useful in the computation of an upper bound t
o error probability of maximum-likelihood (ML) detection in code-division m
ultiple-access (CDMA) multiuser systems. We apply this characterization to
a K-user symmetric system and to a two-user two-rate system. It leads to a
precise calculation of the bound which is then compared to the performance
of a decorrelator.