What Are Swab Drug Tests?

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Of late, the popularity of swab drug tests is on the rise. But, in reality what it is and why this sudden hype for saliva drug tests? Do these tests fare better than urine/blood drug tests? If yes, what are the benefits in considering saliva as the specimen in drug tests? Read further to understand these facts in detail.

Saliva – What Is It?

Saliva is the name given to the sticky fluid secreted by the salivary glands of our body. An average individual is able to secrete more than 1000 millimeters of saliva daily.

Swab Drug Test is a test in which this saliva is considered as the sample. A swab is used for the sample collection in such tests. Administering the test is easy. They aim at finding the drug use on the fly among the examinees.

The Process of Swab Drug Tests

These tests can be administered at random anytime anywhere. The procedure is simple:

· You will be given a swab. Swab resembles a brush with bristles in it.
· You will have to place the swab between your gums and your lower cheeks for a couple of minutes.
· Once the pad absorbs saliva and becomes completely wet, you can take out the swab from your mouth and put in into the vial.
· You should submit the saliva filled vial at the laboratory for the drug test.
· Swab drug tests can detect the presence of drugs like cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines and heroine.

The Pros

· Sample collection is simple and easy.
· The probabilities if substitution is very less. Adulterating the specimen and manipulating the results are almost impossible in contrary to the adulterated samples submitted for urine test.

The Cons

· The detection timeframe within which the drug consumed is detectable in saliva is very less.
· Historical drug usage can never be detected by swab drug tests. Drug taken in the preceding 12-24 hours of the tests can only be detected. As such, random drug tests at workplace can be conducted using saliva as the specimen for the test.

Are The Swab Drug Tests Reliable?

As per the reports from the Utah University, saliva tests are considered to be the most reliable methodology that aids in the drug detection within the human body. Saliva drug tests have been reported to bring out the concentration levels of drugs used along with the drugs consumed.

The popularity if saliva drug tests is on the rise. Statistics report that 20% of drug tests administered in US consider urine/hair strands as sample while 30% of the tests take saliva as the specimen for the test.

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2. The Common Ways to Pass a Drug Test
3. Brief Overview of Hair Follicle Drug Tests
4. The Top 5 Marijuana Drug Tests
5. Random Drug Testing at Workplace – a Boon or a Bane?
6. Check Out If You Child Is Getting Addicted To Drugs With Home Drug Tests