The test is performed using an oral swab that collects saliva.

A variety of drugs and substances can be detected by a mouth swab test.

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How Does a Mouth Swab Drug Test Work?

mouth swab drug test

Peter Dazeley / Getty Images

An oral fluid test is quick and easy.

To ensure accurate results, stick to this.

Home testing kids are also available.you oughta follow the instructions for these carefully.

In some instances, you may need to complete the self-test under supervision.

When Are Mouth Swab Drug Tests Used?

Saliva drug tests are quick and easy ways to check for drug use or monitor health.

These advantages include:

What Do Oral Fluid Screenings Test For?

Mouth swab drug tests can detect a variety of different substances.

It is still possible for some tests to give inaccurate readings.

Also, some drugs are not well detected by the current generation of tests.

In many cases, a drug can be detected in saliva as early as one hour after a dose.

Thereafter, substances can remain detectable from several hours to several days before gradually dropping to undetectable levels.

In general, drugs stay in saliva anywhere from five to 48 hours.

The following are the average windows for when drugs are detectable in oral fluid.

These include jobs regulated by the Department of Transportation.

Laws for other industries vary by state.

Know that you are not alone.

These tests are painless and quick, sometimes delivering results in minutes.

Mouth swab tests are usually best for detecting recent drug use.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Drug Testing.

Desrosiers NA, Huestis MA.Oral fluid drug testing: analytical approaches, issues and interpretation of results.J Anal Toxicol.

Fu S.Adulterants in Urine Drug Testing.Adv Clin Chem.

2016;76:123-163. doi:10.1016/bs.acc.2016.05.003

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Considerations for safety- and security-sensitive industries.

American Civil Liberties Union.State-by-state workplace drug testing laws.