Saliva drug testing is a method of drug detection that has grown in popularity in the last years due to its ease…
Saliva drug tests are known for how easy they are to apply and read results. They are also preferred by testers and tested people because they are non-invasive and can be easily taken in front of the collector.
Since oral fluid drug tests can only detect recent drug usage (a few hours to a few days depending on the drug), they are commonly administered with a short notice. If it’s a workplace checkup, you will usually be notified up to 24 hours before the test. Read more about mouth swab drug testing in the workplace here.
Before the test, you will be asked to keep your mouth empty for 10 minutes to prevent any substance from tampering with the results. This includes food, chewing gum, mints and even water.
When the time of the drug test comes, the tester will give you a device with a cotton swab in one end and a panel in the other. You will have to sweep the insides of your mouths, such as your gums, cheeks and tongue, until you collect a sufficient sample. This can take between two or five minutes.
in 5-7 minutes. If it’s a lab test, they will put the swab in a container and then send it to the lab for evaluation. Results can take 24-48 hours.