How Long Are Drugs Detectable In Saliva Tests
There are several factors that influence how long substances stay in the saliva. An important factor is the frequency of drug use. The detection windows for different drugs are as follows:
- Alcohol: 6 to 12 hours
- Benzodiazepines: up to 5 days
- Cocaine: up to 24 hours
- Heroin: 2 to 24 hours
- THC : 2 to 24 hours
- Methamphetamine: 6 to 76 hours
- MDMA: 1 to 24 hours
- Opiates: 7 to 21 hours
These detection windows are shorter for some drugs than they are for others. However, some drugs remain in the saliva longer than they do in blood or urine.
For this reason, the type of drug in question could affect which of the oral drug tests are ordered. If your employer is trying to detect alcohol, theyll need to test sooner than they would for benzodiazepines.
How Does This Method Work
When you consume weed, THC gets into the blood through the lungs or the stomach walls.
After that, it is metabolized and excreted. But it never gets into the saliva.
The only THC in your mouth is THC that sticks to your mouth during smoking.
So all that you need to do is to wash it out of your mouth with water or any other liquid.
Are Saliva Tests Common
Swab tests are becoming more common among law enforcement officials and employers because they are cost-effective, easy to administer, and can be conducted anywhere, anytime. They can detect drug races sooner than a urine analysis considering it takes most substances a longer time to metabolize and appear in the urine. Still, they can be detected in the oral fluid in just a matter of a couple of hours.
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So Can We Just Use The Detection Period Tables
Detection periods can vary dramatically between people due to many factors . So any reference to detection periods needs to be taken as a very rough guide only.
Detection period tables should not be relied upon to determine detoxification time or to determine when a person will provide a negative result to a drug test. This page contains some useful information which should be helpful for people wanting to understand this issue more thoroughly.
Complete Guide To Saliva Drug Tests
Jen Dewar
Pre-employment drug screening can help you maintain a safer, more productive workplace, but the myriad of options can be overwhelming. There are oral fluid , urine, hair follicle, and blood drug testing options available to you, each with their own unique benefits and challenges.
In this article, well explore the accuracy, detection period, and use cases of saliva drug tests and compare them to your other options. Then you can make an informed decision around which drug tests are best suited for your pre-employment screening.
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Beat A Saliva Drug Screen In 24 Hours
If youre quickly coming up on a drug test in the next day or two, heres what you should do:
Abstain from Consumption
Abstention for a day or two clears THC from saliva naturally and easily .
Consume Fatty Foods
You can accelerate the THC removal process by consuming plenty of high-fat foods. THC is lipid-soluble, meaning it binds to fat molecules so fatty foods can help make THC make a quicker exit from your mouth.
Brush and Brush Again
Youll want to combine good oral hygiene with vigorous mouthwashes . To make sure you pass on short notice, use this detox mouthwash a few minutes before your mouth swab drug test for an extra layer of protection it cleanses any lingering undesirable chemicals in time for a short-notice mouth swab.
Common Questions We Receive On Drug Test Detection Times
- How long does marijuana stay in my system?
- If I used cocaine last weekend, will it show up in my pre-employment test?
- How long do drugs stay in my system?
The answers to these questions vary depending on many factors. Most notably these include the specimen type used for the drug test blood, oral fluid, urine, or hair. The different drugs that we test for also have varying detection times. The chart below lists the various drugs and the approximate detection times for those drugs. It is important to note these values are not exact, they are approximate because of many different contributing factors.
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Important Tips For Success
If you have a couple of days before your drug test, follow these recommendations to increase your chances of passing.
- Drink lots of water: Thoroughly swish water around your mouth, rinse, and repeat. This also keeps saliva flowing and washing THC out.
- Practice good oral hygiene: Brush teeth twice daily, use mouth rinses, and anti-cavity chewing gum after using weed.
- Eat fatty, fried foods: Active THC binds to fats, so eating fatty foods will help draw THC from the mouth.
- Abstain from using weed: Avoid using weed for at least 48 hours before your scheduled test.
Since your employer might decide to conduct a mouth swab drug test randomly, it is ideal that you keep a small bottle of detox mouthwash at hand.
They are highly convenient to carry around, easy to use, and no one will suspect anything fishy if youre swishing some mouthwash during break time.
Hair Drug Test Vs Oral Fluid Test
Hair follicles drug test is another invasive and expensive type of drug test. Among other drug tests, follicles drug tests have the longest drug detection window of 90 days. In this type of test, the lab testers would cut hair from the roots to collect the sample. Also, you have to wait for a few days to get your test result. But mouth swab drug test provides fast results and costs less than a hair drug test.
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Do I Have To Take A Mouth Swab Drug Test
The good news is that your employer cannot force you, or a potential job candidate, to take a mouth swab drug test.
But the bad news is that there can be negative consequences if you refuse to take the test.
Refusing to take a pre-employment oral drug test means that the employer can withdraw the job offer. Refusing to take a drug test while on the job could cause your company to fire or suspend you or refuse a possible promotion.
To avoid any confusion, its always a good idea to enquire about your companys drug testing policy. You can ask someone from human resources for more information regarding these matters.
What Kinds Of Drugs Can Be Detected With Mouth Swab Drug Test
These types of tests are generally performed to see if someone has consumed cannabis. But it can easily detect several other drug compounds other than THC. With a multi-panel drug test, your employer can find out if you are using substances or not.
Passing a saliva drug test for THC might be comparatively easy. It cannot detect the presence of THC in your body. But when it comes to substances like cocaine, opioids, or alcohol the same might not be easy. This type of test can only identify the existence of THC if some of the traces are left there in your mouth. Following are the types of drugs that can be detected with saliva drug tests.
| Alcohol | About 12 hours |
A hair follicle drug test can detect the presence of drugs for up to 90 days whereas a urine drug test can detect the same for 3 days. So, this might be a major drawback.
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Which Is Better: Saliva Or Urine Drug Test
When it comes to comparing saliva and urine drug tests, no method is generally better. What is best for one situation might not be the right option for another.
When choosing between a saliva test or another option, consider:
- Need for supervision
All types of testing methods are safe and effective. Choosing which is best depends on a persons, medical facilitys, or companys budget, preferences, and specific needs.
Can You Pass An Oral Test With Home Remedies
Some online guides recommend home remedies to pass a mouth swab test. But just because the remedies are popular, doesn’t mean that they actually work. None of the home remedies we’ll show you today have been designed to mask drug use, and none of them have any scientific studies or evidence to show that they work.
Someone who trusts one of these myths will be taking a massive risk in using a solution that has no real evidence to cleanse drug toxins from their system.
Here are the most popular myths on the internet at the moment.
Listerine
Some people believe that dissolving Listerine strips in your mouth helps pass an oral drug test. They say that you should dissolve one piece on the inside of each cheek and one under your tongue to absorb any THC residue on the day of the test. You must also give your mouth a thorough rinse with Listerine mouthwash about 30 minutes before the test. Rinse with water to remove any lingering toxins and then rub two more strips in your cheeks on the way to the test.
The problem with this theory is that there’s no ingredient in Listerine known to detox drugs from saliva. It is made to kill mouth fungi and bacteria but will have no effect on drug metabolites from opiates, coke, THC or any other drug. You will definitely have the best smelling mouth in the test group, though.
Vinegar
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a nasty substance that can cause internal damage if you accidentally ingest it in dangerous quantities.
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What Is An Inconclusive Test
Laboratory examiners can declare a mouth swab result as inconclusive when there is evidence that your saliva sample is more diluted than average. This typically raises suspicions because it is a sign that you may have tried to tamper with your saliva to mask drug use.
While this is not enough proof for a tester to fail you, it is enough to raise suspicions. You will need to have a good explanation about your saliva dilution, like telling the testers that you are drinking a lot more water than usual. Regardless of your reason, inconclusive result means that you did not pass your mouth swab drug test and you will be asked to retake it.
High Voltage Saliva Detox
This Saliva Cleanse Detox Mouthwash is the first one on our list for beating saliva tests because of its popularity and effectiveness. This is the go-to detox drink among heavy weed users. The instruction for using the mouthwash is easy and the effect stays for about an hour. All you have to do is shake the bottle nicely and swish it for a few minutes. Now spit it out and your mouth would be free of THC.
Some might worry that lab tests would detect the product. Put your mind at ease because the product doesnt get detected. Remember you cannot smoke, drink, eat, or brush immediately after or before using the detox mouthwash.
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How Does It Work
A mouth swab drug test uses a long Q-tip with a sponge-like material to collect your saliva sample. The mouth swab drug test is done by sweeping the inside of the cheek or underneath the tongue. Either yourself or a test administrator will perform the swab.
A mouth swab drug test is brief, lasting only one to three minutes. Additionally, you do not need to prepare for the test in any way. You are typically asked not to eat or drink anything around 10 minutes before the test.
Mandatory Drug Test While Hiring Saliva Drug Test And Its Detection Time
Drug testing has become mandatory in almost all organizations. Employees who are hired need to undergo drug testing in various ways. Urine tests, saliva tests, hair follicle testing and blood tests are some of the most common investigations that are done. Along with screening new employees, random drug tests are also carried out on employees in an organization to gauge if they are working in the right physical and mental condition.
Testing positive for a drug test might prove to be detrimental to the job. People who consume alcohol, drugs or smoke on regular basis should be slightly careful as even after taking precautions, you might test positive for the test. Saliva drug test detection time varies from one drug to another.
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How Does A Mouth Swab Drug Test Work
A common collection method is to use a swabstick with an attached sponge or absorbent pad to swab the inside of the cheek or under the tongue. Other collection methods include spitting, draining, and suction to gather saliva for testing.
A mouth swab drug test may be conducted on-site, including in an office or at the scene of an accident, or at a dedicated lab or specimen collection site.
The individual being screened may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 10 minutes before the test to ensure better accuracy. Food, beverages, medication, and mouthwash can all interfere with accurate saliva drug test results.
The specimen will either be instantly analyzed on-site or sent to a lab to determine if traces of controlled substances are present in the individuals body.
If the initial screen yields a non-negative test result, a more sensitive confirmation screening will be done at a lab and a thorough medical review may be performed for accuracy. This step is important. The person being tested may use a prescription or over-the-counter medication that has resulted in a false-positive drug test. A Medical Review Officer may verify the medical records provided by the individual being tested, possibly contacting their pharmacy or doctors office for prescription verifications.
Vast Guide To Passing Mouth Swab Drug Test
You will find how to pass a mouth swab drug test for weed amongst the most searched items on Google. This is because many employers conduct saliva tests, and passing them is essential for most people. So if you wish to keep your job or are up for a mouth swab test for any other reason, read along to know more about it.
We have mentioned everything from detox products to home remedies to pass a saliva drug test in this article. Be it pot, marijuana, or cannabis the mouth swab test wont be able to detect any drugs if you follow the guidelines mentioned below.
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Legalization Of Cannabis And Drug Tests
As mentioned, some states are fine with marijuana consumption as a form of recreation. But you cannot show up at work being stoned. Thus, even states like Oregon, California, and Colorado, with liberal laws regarding cannabis consumption ban its use while at work. The legalization of cannabis in these states created some issues which lead to frequent drug tests on the roadside.
The number of cases of driving under the influence suddenly skyrocketed due to this law in the mentioned states. The risk factors are too high when you are driving after consuming cannabis. So, the authorities are often performing oral swab drug tests on roadsides.
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How can I pass a cotton swab drug test is a very common question you would find around the web? It also has varied answers that might seem promising but not many could benefit from using these methods. These remedies might have worked for a few in the past. But technology is progressing each day and you cannot expect to beat drug tests with old methods anymore.
Benefits Of Oral Fluid Testing Over Urine Testing
Oral Fluid Testing is the right solution if trying to screen for recent substance use, since saliva samples contain a higher percentage of the parent drug, compared to urine that measures only the by-product metabolites. Depending on the type of drug used and drug cutoff levels, drug detection times for saliva drug test kits are shorter compared to urine drug tests or hair follicle drug tests.
Oral drug test kits are very donor and administrator friendly. Oral fluid drug testing is non-invasive and allows for easy, supervised specimen collection. There is no need for the privacy of a bathroom, so it is virtually impossible to cheat a saliva drug test. Urine drug testing requires a bathroom for private specimen collection, and allows the individual the opportunity to tamper with the test.
Oral fluid testing is a great tool for employers to use at a workplace in order to facilitate a systematic drug check up ranging from pre-employment to post accident.
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Are Oral Drug Tests Accurate
Oral fluid tests are very dependable point-of-care tests . Staffing and recruiting professionals prefer to issue oral drug test kits for candidate screening. Occupational safety managers who demand full-time sobriety can also benefit from using saliva drug tests.
However, if you do require assistance, Confirm offers training guides and whitepapers to show you how to operate your saliva drug tests. Plus, our customer service team is always here to help.