Drug Screening Highlights: Let’s Learn Together How Saliva Drug Tests Work (In Plain English) Part 2 of 8

Saliva drug tests may look simple, but there’s solid science behind that small swab.

When a person uses certain drugs, traces of those substances enter the bloodstream. From there, they move into oral fluid, or saliva, fairly quickly. That’s what makes saliva testing especially effective at detecting recent drug use.

The process begins with collection. A small swab is placed in the mouth, usually between the cheek and gum, until it absorbs enough saliva. Once collected, the swab is secured inside a testing device designed to detect specific drugs or drug metabolites.

Inside the device are test strips coated with antibodies. These antibodies are designed to react when a targeted substance is present above a defined cutoff level. When that reaction occurs, the test produces a clear, visible result, often within minutes.

Screening tests are built for speed and practicality. When required, non-negative results can be sent to a certified laboratory for confirmatory testing, which uses advanced methods to verify accuracy and rule out false positives.

Fact Friday takeaway:
Saliva drug tests detect drug traces that move quickly from the bloodstream into oral fluid, making them a fast and reliable option for identifying recent drug use.