The Power of Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Industry News & Updates

A simple mouth swab can significantly enhance your workplace safety. Oral fluid drug testing is changing workplace drug testing offering a non-invasive, rapid, and highly accurate method.

Key Advantages

• High Accuracy: Most oral fluid devices provide 97% accuracy when administered correctly.
• Quick Results: In many cases, results are available within 2 minutes or less for negative tests.
• Effective for Recent Use: This testing method is particularly effective for identifying recent substance use and assessing fitness for work.
• Cost-Effective and Easy to Administer: Oral fluid testing is both economical and straightforward to implement.

What Can It Detect?

Oral fluid drug tests can detect a range of substances, including:

• Amphetamines
• Benzodiazepines
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamines
• Opiates
• Oxycodone
• THC

How It Works

A mouth swab/oral fluid drug test is a straightforward, non-invasive screening method that requires minimal effort to administer. The procedure demands little preparation, requiring individuals to refrain from consuming food or beverages for 10 minutes beforehand. An absorbent pad is used to swab the inside of the cheek, with negative results available within two minutes. When administered properly, oral fluid tests demonstrate 97% accuracy. Substances remain present in oral fluids for shorter periods compared to urine, making this testing method particularly effective for identifying recent substance use.

Detection Times

Detection time varies based on the substance and frequency of use. Generally, the detection time is longest in:

• Hair: 7-50+ days
• Urine: 1-4 days (up to 30 days for chronic use)
• Blood: 0-60 hours
• Oral Fluid: 0-36 hours (up to 4-5 days for long-lasting substances)

Factors Influencing Reliability

Several elements can influence the reliability of an oral swab drug test, including:

• The specific test variant
• The substance being screened and its quantity
• The administrator’s expertise
• The testing environment
• The specific detection timeframe for the substance
• Whether analysis occurs on-site or in laboratory conditions

Pros and Cons of Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Pros:

• Rapid testing process
• Non-invasive procedure
• Cost-efficient
• Reduced risk of sample manipulation

Cons:

• Shorter detection window (0-34 hours generally, but up to 4-5 days for long-lasting substances)
• Sample collection may be challenging in cases of dry mouth (Alcolizer Technology can offer strategies to assist with oral fluid collection in this situation)

Recommended Oral Fluid Tests

At Alcolizer Technology, we offer cutting-edge drug and alcohol testing solutions. Our drug testing solutions for oral fluid include:

• Druglizer LE5 – ideal for higher volume testing requirements with data management, alerts, electronic display, and 24/7 testing ability with our module exchange calibration.
• Oral Detect – extremely popular for performing fewer tests (under 40 tests per month) and one of the few available certified by an independent laboratory to AS/NZS 4760:2019. Oral Detect is a rapid, single-use oral fluid drug detection device providing fast and accurate testing. Both devices are independently verified and certified to AS/NZS 4760:2019.

Ready to elevate your workplace safety? Get in touch with our team to discuss how oral fluid testing can benefit your organisation or continue reading the benefits of Oral Fluid white paper.