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Saliva Drug Testing - Awareness Issues

Saliva Drug Testing


 Saliva Tests for drugs is the least invasive and fastest way to test for current impairment from drugs in the workplace.

 As with any rapid test method including urine drug testing, a Non Negative result needs to be confirmed by a laboratory in order to obtain a confirmed analytical result. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) are the preferred confirmatory methods.

Here are some Questions and Answers regarding issues some have with Saliva Testing:

Q: I had a candidate submit a negative test when the person appears to be under the influence of drugs or something else.

A: There are a number of possible explanations:
      1. I assume the candidate was tested for Alcohol
      2. If the Saliva Test did not have a Benzodiazepine test strip this could be the cause.
      3. There are very few substances or adulterants that can provide a false negative test 
          with saliva.

MediNat will supply authorised  testing personnel, company management or HR with a list of these substances on request, please contact us here.

Q: I had a test that did not show any lines at all, why is that?

A: Saliva Drug Tests require varying amounts of saliva to effectively 'run' the test.
    1. The most common form of sponge stick test requires more saliva than most to 
        successfully run.
    2. Ensure that the sponge is completely soft and saturated with saliva before applying it 
        to the Test unit/cup or cassette.

    3. If the sponge stick has an indicator, make sure the indicator is fully exposed, not just
         a line.
    4. The test strip should have a pinkish flow of saliva that runs all the way to the top, this 
         indicates enough saliva has been applied.
    5. If you have a test that does not run saliva to the top of the strip, add more saliva, 
        either by using using the sponge again, or expressing saliva directly into the cup.

        
Q: I am sure the candidate was under the influence of Synthetic Marijuana, because I 
     heard the gossip onsite. Can I get a saliva test for that?

A:  1. Some Saliva Tests indicate they test Synthetic Cannabis, however the known 
          versions of the chemicals used in this are acids! acid does not cross the barrier well   
          into saliva, therefore there may be as little as 1-2% of the substance in the saliva 
          sample, which is not enough to show a positive.
     2. Saliva tests do detect Synthetic Cannabis in laboratory conditions, because of the 
          quantity of the substance the test is spiked with! this does not translate to the 
         workplace, onsite test. 
     3. If Synthetic Cannabis is suspected, we suggest you use a urine test to potentially 
         detect it because urine tests will detect the metabolite where saliva won't.
      
Note: the majority of tests for K2/Spice or Synthetic Cannabis usually test accurately for
      a few of the known chemicals :

  •        JWH-018 pentanoic acid 50ng/ml
  •        JWH-018 propanoic acid 25ng/ml
  •        JWH-073 butanoic acid 25ng/ml
  •        JWH-210 N-5 carboxypentyl 200ng/ml
  •        JWH-398 N pentanoic acid 200ng/ml
  •        MAM2201 N pentanoic acid 100ng/ml

      While these have always been the most common chemicals, they are not in all 
      Synthetic Cannabis mixtures.
      There are currently 50+ know chemicals found in Synthetic Cannabis.
      However Synthetic Cannabis testing could act as a deterrent for those who think they 
      can use and not be caught, maybe they won't risk it.

 For further information please contact us at MediNat Australia

 
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