Oral drug testing uses saliva to screen for illegal drugs, with advantages of easy collection and difficulty to alter results. However, it can only detect drug use within 48 hours. It is commonly used for workplace accidents and random testing, while other methods are used for historical drug use. Prescription drugs without a prescription are also considered illegal and can cause a test to fail.
Oral drug testing uses a person’s saliva, instead of urine or blood, to screen for illegal drugs. An advantage of using saliva is that the collection procedure is much easier and more convenient, and it can be much more difficult for a person to alter the results. One drawback, however, is that oral drug tests can usually only detect drug use within the last 48 hours.
An oral drug test is usually administered by a technician and screened by a professional. The binder, which typically looks a lot like a toothbrush with a pad instead of bristles, is placed between the cheek and the gum. After about two minutes, the swab becomes saturated with saliva and can be removed. The reliability of saliva in drug tests has been tested at many facilities, including the University of Utah, an American college in Salt Lake City. Studies have concluded that it is a reliable method for the detection of substances such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main chemical in marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and other common drugs.
Because an oral drug test does not normally detect historical drug use in the way that a hair drug test might and can only detect use within 48 hours, it is more commonly used when there is suspicion of recent use . In many areas, workplace accidents warrant suspicion of recent use, and oral drug testing may be required. Employers who practice random testing may also choose to conduct oral drug testing for convenience.
When drug use needs to be detected before the last 48 hours, other drug screening methods are typically used. A urine drug test can detect drug use within two to 28 days, depending on the drug. Drug tests of blood, hair and spine can go back much further, and some drugs are detectable for life. Oral drug testing can be done at a hospital or doctor’s office, or it can be sent to an outside company that specializes in saliva testing. Third-party screenings are generally popular, as they prevent the possibility of contamination from uncertified tests.
Most of the time, prescription drugs found in the system without the correct prescription are also considered illegal and will cause an oral drug test to fail. Typically, the only way to pass oral drug tests is to avoid over-the-counter drugs. Chewing gum, drinking any substance, or eating particular foods usually has no effect on the drug content in saliva. The repercussions of failing a drug test depend on your employer and area laws.
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