Saliva drug tests, or Oral fluid drug tests, are a drug testing method that identify the presence of substances of abuse in the fluid found in the mouth. This method of drug and alcohol testing is popular for workplace testing as it is efficient and less invasive than blood testing and urine testing, offering fast results with a simple mouth swab.
A swab is taken from the inside of the cheek or underneath the tongue, collecting oral fluid (which also includes saliva)
What do saliva drug tests detect?
The number and type of substances a saliva drug tests detects depends on the test in use.
6 Panel Saliva Drug Test
Our 6 panel saliva drug test tests for:
- Amphetamine (AMP)
- Benzodiazepine (BZO)
- Cocaine (COC)
- Marijuana/Cannabis (THC)
- Methamphetamine (MET)
- Opiates (OPI)
6 Panel Saliva Drug & Alcohol Test
And we also stock a saliva test that tests for these 6 drug types and an additional test for the presence of alcohol in the oral fluid. This test maintains the same high level of accuracy with additional testing benefits, making drug and alcohol testing in the workplace that bit easier.
10 Panel Saliva Drug Test
Our 10 panel saliva drug test tests for:
- Amphetamine (AMP)
- Barbiturates (BAR)
- Buprenorphine (BUP)
- Benzodiazepine (BZO)
- Cocaine (COC)
- Marijuana/Cannabis (THC)
- Methadone (MTD)
- Methamphetamine (MET)
- Opiates (OPI)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
How accurate are saliva drug tests for THC and other common drugs?
Generally, saliva/oral fluid drug tests offer a lower accuracy on detecting THC due to the way Cannabis and THC products are consumed and metabolised by the body.
For drugs that are ingested via swallowing, snorting and injection, however, saliva drug test retain a high level of accuracy. This is because the method of consumption puts more of the drug into the blood stream and digestive system, which then is excreted in the oral fluid.
How reliable are saliva drug tests?
A saliva swab drug test (POCT) has an accuracy of around 97-98% compared to a laboratory saliva drug test. There are, however, factors that can affect the accuracy including:
- The drug type and concentration
- The skill and ability of the person administering the test
- The time of test and the detection window of a specific drug
- The quality and type of test used
Urine tests offer a larger sample volume but are open to adulteration due to the unobserved collection process when compared to saliva tests. Saliva drug tests benefit from being able to be collected in full sight of the tester using a less invasive process for the donor.
Saliva drug test detection times
For how long a saliva drug test will be able to detect the presence of substances of misuse depends on various factors including metabolism, diet and the type of drug taken, but generally, a swab saliva test can identify drug use from 5-48 hours post use.
How long does cannabis stay in your saliva?
Cannabis metabolites can generally be identified in oral fluid/saliva for up to 12-14 hours, compared with five weeks in urine for a frequent user.
How long does cocaine stay in your saliva?
Cocaine can be detected in saliva for up to two days post use, compared with two weeks in urine for a frequent user.
How long does alcohol stay in your saliva?
Alcohol can be detected in saliva for as long as 24 hours after drinking.
Where can I buy saliva drug tests?
When buying drug testing kits of any type, purchasing from a trusted brand is key to ensuring accurate and reliable results. Our drug and alcohol tests offer high levels of testing accuracy in convenient and fast-acting kits. We offer both saliva drug testing kits and urine drug testing kits so you can enforce your drug policy in a way that suits you.
Think your workplace drug policy needs work? We offer a drug policy review service and can help you improve, and even rewrite your policy to best serve your business. Get in touch today to speak to our team of specialists about how we can help you get your workplace drug policy up to scratch.