The oral fluid is the term that refers to saliva and several other types of secretions in the oral cavity. The saliva drug test focuses on the detection of various drugs whose traces can be retrieved from the saliva. Some standard saliva drug test products are only used for detecting alcohol consumptions. Also, check out the best detox drink.
But, some other kits have the capability of testing for various other substances as well. The most common drugs that could be tested using saliva drug test products are AMP, BAR, BUP, BZO, COC, mAMP, MTD, MDMA, OPI, OXY, PCP, and THC, etc.
The test conducted can provide both the identification and quantification of a particular drug. Eventually, the results are given either positive or negative. To get the best product in hand, several things regarding the saliva drug test kit are needed to be considered.
Table of Contents
What is Saliva Drug Test and how does it work?
Saliva as compared to other non-invasive specimen methods for drug detection is known for much faster detection. You get the results almost immediately once the sample is collected. The test equipment comes with a testing strip or an absorbent wick that needs to be inserted in the mouth. Learn more about mouth swab drug tests.
Understanding Specific Drugs based on their Cut-Off Range
To make the most of your equipment, you need to understand about the cut-off range for certain common drugs. This cut-off differs from one drug to the other and based on this, the saliva drug test kit works. If the saliva specimen concentrates the level of drugs going at or above the given cut-off then the result will be positive.
If it is lower than the cut-off then the result will come as negative. Let us take a look at the below table which indicates the cut-offs of the most common drugs to be tested using a saliva drug test kit: Learn more about hair drug test.
| Drug | Cut-off (ng/ ml) |
|---|---|
| COC (Cocaine) | 20 |
| THC (Parent) | 25 |
| AMP (Amphetamine) | 25 |
| OPI (Opiates or Heroine) | 25 |
| MDMA/ MET (Ecstasy or Methamphetamine) | 50 |
Best Saliva Drug Test kit reviews
1, Saliva Laboratory Oral Fluid Drug Test Confirmation/ Screening
This one is a 5-panel saliva drug testing kit. It means that the product can detect 5 different types of drugs which include Amphetamine, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Opiate, and Marijuana, etc.
![saliva-laboratory-drug-test-screening-confirmation-5-drugs-17[1]](https://solidlandings.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/saliva-laboratory-drug-test-screening-confirmation-5-drugs-171.jpg)
The product is right as per the standards given by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). When it comes to confirmation then it detects the particular metabolites to give information about the type and quantity of a particular drug.
The cut-off levels for this product in confirmation testing are found to be quite lower than those found in the instant saliva drug tests.
Pros:
- It provides a simple and non-invasive way of taking the saliva specimen.
- The limited panel equipment is can detect some popular drugs including cocaine and heroin.
- The specimen taken through the product can give information about the type and quantity of drugs.
- The product is right as per the standards of SAMSHA.
Cons:
- It is a 5-panel saliva test kit only and misses out on some important drug test detection such as phencyclidine and barbiturates etc.
- Benzodiazepines – The subject substance stays in the saliva for 10 days. This is the drug that stays in the saliva for the longest. However, an intermediate-acting similar drug such as lorazepam can be detected only as long as 5 days, which is still quite long.
- Marijuana – Marijuana is a harmful drug that is derived from a plant. It is now legal in certain states of America if possessed in reasonably low quantity. As compared with other drugs on the list, the life of marijuana in the human body is quite long. Using blood or urine test, marijuana consumption can be detected for the last six weeks. In the case of saliva, the present time is 24 hours.
- MDMA – MDMA is also commonly known as Molly or ecstasy. You will find this available on the panel of the majority of mouth swab kits as it is too common. This may last longer in blood or urine but the time duration is saliva is quite short. It can be detected only for 24 hours in the saliva.
- Cocaine – Cocaine is a popular but harmful drug if injected or smoked consistently for a longer period. The detection window for cocaine is found to be quite reasonable in the saliva. The mouth swab drug test can detect cocaine consumption in the last 48 to 72 hours. However, different concentration and preparation of cocaine may impact the detection window.
- Opiates – All available opiates are not equally made so the length of time they remain in the human body or saliva varies considerably. Some of the opiates illegally made and found in the streets lead to much ambiguity in the time for which they remain present in saliva. It is mainly due to the presence of certain unknown components along with analogs. Usually, heroin and multiple other opiates can be detected in human saliva for 24 to 36 hours.
- Alcohol – Alcohol as compared to other drugs is different and it is not usually part of the urine or blood tests. It is because of the rate at which alcohol gets metabolized in the human body. If someone has alcohol a night before the test then the urine or blood test would normally come as negative. The mouth swab oral test at the other end has a much longer window. It can detect alcohol in saliva for a period of 6 to 12 hours.
2,Saliva Oral Fluid 6 Panel Direct Drug Test Device
This is a top product that takes the sample and instantly provides the result. It is a complete product for carrying a saliva drug test at home where you don’t require to submit ay specimen at a lab for evaluation or screening. The equipment is useful for screening any recent drug consumption.
The absorbent wick must stay in for 3 to 5 minutes or use the red indicator line to ensure that a sufficient sample has been collected. Once the specimen has been collected then put the cap back on and place the device on some flat surface. The results should be read right after 10 minutes which are very much accurate. If you delay reading for an hour or more than the results would not be valid with this saliva drug test device. The 6 drugs that it can detect include THC, mAMP, AMP, OPI, BZO, and COC.
Pros:
- The device has got a diverse drug panel profile with 6 different drugs capable of detecting.
- Near to accurate results can be obtained within 10 minutes.
- A useful red line helps as an indicator of a substantial specimen of saliva has been collected.
- Results using color coding are easy to read to conclude the result as positive or negative.
Cons:
- Results are secured for a limited time only and do not remain valid after 1 hour.
3, Alcohol Saliva Test Strip Kit
This is very easy to use a saliva test strip to use at home. It doesn’t require any special or formal training for administering the sample or results. The test kit is only suitable for detecting alcohol consumption. It is a highly sensitive device that detects alcohol with immense precision.
Pros:
- The product offers a diverse range of alcohol consumption in 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.30 percent.
- The results are quickly obtained within 5 minutes.
- The testing kit requires the absorbent wick to be inserted in the mouth for 10 seconds only.
- Positive or negative results are induced with an easy and distinct color-coding method.
Cons:
- This testing kit is only meant for alcohol detection and no other drug.
4, Saliva Oral Fluid Direct Drug Test
This one is an impressive device with a diverse panel range of working with 7 commonly consumed drugs. The list of drugs that it can detect includes Amphetamine, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Opiate, Oxycodone, and Marijuana, etc.
Pros:
- The device has a diverse drug panel of detecting 7 commonly consumed drugs.
- The sample taking is an easy procedure that takes a maximum of 10 seconds only.
- The red indicator line is quite useful to ensure that enough sample of saliva is taken.
- You can supervise multiple tests at once while using this product.
Cons:
- The device can give only positive or negative results but cannot tell about the number of drugs.
5, Saliva Oral Fluid Laboratory Drug Test Confirmation
If you are only interested in taking the drug test saliva sample at home or office then this product can be highly suitable for you. The collected samples can then be taken to the nearby laboratory for screening and sharing the results.
Pros:
- The product has a diverse drug panelist comprising of 12 commonly consumed drugs.
- The product is easy to use for taking the saliva sample that takes a few seconds only.
- This item is as per the SAMSHA standards.
- The testing results are found to be quite accurate.
Cons:
- The product can only take a saliva specimen. Results are processed at a lab after submitting the specimen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Things to consider when picking up the Saliva drug test
Drug Panel Range
Device Adherence to SAMSHA Standards
Accuracy of Results
Ease of Reading Results
Test Kit Package Type
A saliva drug test equipment my come in two forms. You may get the equipment with the absorbent wick which you can use to take the specimen and results at home. Another type just provides a testing strip to take samples only at home. This needs to be then submitted at a lab for screening results.
Conclusion
The use of alternative specimens instead of urine or blood for drug detection has opened new horizons in the medical field. Saliva is one of the alternative specimens that the science is referring to these days for the detection of drugs and various other substances in the human body. It is a non-invasive method where the results are obtained instantly with no needle poked into the human body.
If you are looking to buy a saliva drug test kit then make sure that you check for its accuracy of results, ease of performing a test, and retrieving results and type of drugs that it can detect.
