Oral Fluid Drug Testing For Risk Management

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Oral fluid drug testing is used as a risk management tool to evaluate an individual’s recent use and potential impairment. Drug detection timelines range from immediately after consumption – 1 hr – 48 hours depending on the drug and the individual’s use pattern. 

Benefits of oral fluid drug testing include: 

  • Detection Windows – oral fluid drug tests have shorter detection windows than urine-based drug testing. This provides a better assessment of an individual’s current fitness for duty. 
  • Observed Tests – oral fluid drug tests are observed, which greatly reduces the opportunity for an individual to adulter their sample. 

Limitations of oral fluid drug testing include: 

  • Cut-off levels – the express oral fluid (POCT) devices commercially available today have not been able to achieve cut-off levels that align with the levels established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 
  • Not Legally Defensible – express oral fluid testing has not been utilized for long within Canadian safety-sensitive fields, and thus there is a lack of case law supporting its use.  
  • Not Industry Accepted – express oral fluid drug testing is not accepted under the Canadian Model for Providing a Safe Workplace, however, lab-based oral fluid drug testing is accepted by the Canadian Model in some situations (post-incident and reasonable cause). Express oral fluid testing is not accepted by most contactors in Canadian safety-sensitive fields (energy, construction, transportation, etc.), however, lab-based oral fluid testing is starting to be accepted by some.

10 panel express oral fluid drug screens (POCT) are available. Lab-based oral fluid testing is also available in a variety of panels including 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14. 

All oral fluid drug collections are completed by certified drug test collectors. 

Our result-reporting turnaround times are exemplary, with drug screen (POCT) results reported within one hour of completion. Lab-based negative drug test results are typically reported the next business day, while lab-based positive drug test results will be reported within 2-5 business days of the sample’s arrival at the laboratory.

Book an oral fluid drug test online

Oral fluid drug tests can be booked online through our online bookings form