What Can A Mouth Swab Drug Test Test For?

Saliva mouth swab drug test kits

Saliva mouth swabs are becoming a popular choice for drug and alcohol screening. They offer some advantages over urine drug testing, but also some limitations.

The range of drugs which can now been tested using saliva has increased dramatically over the last few years, and now is almost as extensive as the range of urine drug tests available commercially.

Saliva drug groups currently available in the ALLTEST saliva drug test kit range with detection times & cut off levels.

Advantages of mouth swab saliva drug testing

One big advantage or saliva drug testing using oral fluid mouth swab drug test kits, is being able to directly observe and manage the sample swab while the collection is occurring. This direct observation ensures the sample is not substituted or adulterated prior to drug testing. This can be difficult to ensure with urine collection. Also the saliva sample can be taken in more places, as there is no need for a urinal or toilet, and while privacy must still be offered to the donor, it does simplify many issues around where to conduct the drug test.

The second big advantage of saliva drug testing using rapid onsite oral fluid mouth swab drug test kits, often overlooked by employment screening buyers, is the ability to combine in a single test procedure both a comprehensive drug screen with a real time alcohol screen. As alcohol is a legally consumed product which is excreted gradually after consumption, this is not possible using a urine based screening test. (which may detect alcohol taken the night before, but not affecting the ability to function currently) Far better to test the saliva alcohol level which correlates directly with the real time blood alcohol level.

Is saliva Laboratory confirmation available for a mouth swab drug test?

Laboratory confirmation using GC/MS or LC/MS methods are available and accredited for evidential use for the majority of rapid on-site drug groups tested for with mouth swab drug test kits, and the range is expanding to match the available lateral flow drug test combinations now available to buy.

What are the limitations of a mouth swab drug test?

The main limitation in choosing a saliva based drug test remains the shorter window of detection for almost all drug groups. This is particularly problematic with drug testing for Cannabis. Saliva drug tests only detect the parent or original THC drug element and not the metabolite. This means the saliva contains no chemical break down products which are detectable by the lateral flow oral fluid mouth swab drug test, and consequently the drug screen can only detect residual THC in the oral cavity, left over after use. This means urine drug testing has a much better detection window for Cannabis, as it detects THC one of the metabolites of Cannabis.

Further information on mouth swab drug test kits

If you are looking for more information on mouth swab drug tests then you may find our FAQ saliva drug testing section of this website helpful. If you need any assistance or advice on choosing the best mouth swab drug testing kits  for your needs please contact our customer support team who will be happy to assist you.

Order mouth swab drug testing kits for saliva drug testing online