Question about Saliva (Swab) Test

[LorTabitha]

I did try to UTMFSE, but couldn't find anything. Either I or the search engine is too fucked up to work properly!

Anyway, my hubby came home yesterday and asked me what I know about pre-employment drug screening via a mouth swab. (Answer: nothing) A co-worker had just applied for a job at a large home improvement warehouse kind of store and they asked him for a sample right in the middle of the interview! Anyway, I figured I'd ask you experts what you know...

Is this (testing saliva rather than urine) becoming more common?

What is tested for (typically)?

How long will substances show up after being ingested?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[RxQueen]

i don't know much, but it IS becoming more prevalent. IMO, it makes it harder to cheat because what am i gonna do? carry someone else's spit around between my cheek and gum at interviews? bastages!

i got popped w/ a swab test unexpectedly at an interview once, and since i never heard back from them, i have to assume that i failed miserably. i do remember googling the damn things when i got home, and the only piece of info that i really remember is that the general belief was that the swab test was less effective at picking up MJ use. as far as i know, the substances that they check for are the same... usually a standard 5-panel, sometimes with a specific oxy test added in.

maybe you'll have better luck than i did if you try to google it... it's been close to a year since my experience. so hopefully more info (and more easy cheats) are becoming known by now.

good luck to your friend!

[Synack]

it's cheaper, and it's a very basic 5 panel.

[robojunkie]

Just google "ora sure intercept" and you'll get the company website with links to pdfs of all the studies that lists all the detection time periods for given doses, etc. My old clinic used these and I looked up this shit when they switched.

[LorTabitha]

Thanks for the info everyone! :-) I'll let my hubby know and if I hear anything about how his co-worker fared, I'll post it.

[waggz]

Not sure if you have found your answer yet but i had to do a saliva test for probation. I had used that morning before receiving the call to get the test done. Luckily they gave me period of 5 days to get it done!

Hope this helps!
http://www.answers.com/topic/drug-test

Detection in saliva tests begins immediately upon use:

marijuana (http://www.answers.com/topic/cannabis) and Hashish (http://www.answers.com/topic/hashish) (THC (http://www.answers.com/topic/tetrahydrocannabinol)): From time of ingestion, up to 24 hours.
Cocaine (http://www.answers.com/topic/cocaine) (including crack (http://www.answers.com/topic/crack)): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days.
Opiates (http://www.answers.com/topic/opiate): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days
Methamphetamine (http://www.answers.com/topic/methamphetamine) and Ecstasy (http://www.answers.com/topic/methylenedioxymethamphetamine) (MDMA, "Crank," "Ice"): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days.
Benzodiazepines (http://www.answers.com/topic/benzodiazepine): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days.

[robojunkie]

Not sure if you have found your answer yet but i had to do a saliva test for probation. I had used that morning before receiving the call to get the test done. Luckily they gave me period of 5 days to get it done!

Hope this helps!
http://www.answers.com/topic/drug-test

Detection in saliva tests begins immediately upon use:
marijuana (http://www.answers.com/topic/cannabis) and Hashish (http://www.answers.com/topic/hashish) (THC (http://www.answers.com/topic/tetrahydrocannabinol)): From time of ingestion, up to 24 hours.
Cocaine (http://www.answers.com/topic/cocaine) (including crack (http://www.answers.com/topic/crack)): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days.
Opiates (http://www.answers.com/topic/opiate): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days
Methamphetamine (http://www.answers.com/topic/methamphetamine) and Ecstasy (http://www.answers.com/topic/methylenedioxymethamphetamine) (MDMA, "Crank," "Ice"): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days.
Benzodiazepines (http://www.answers.com/topic/benzodiazepine): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days.

Yes, those above numbers, and the immediacy thing are the unique traits of the orasure intercept thing. They use the whole immediate detection thing as their huge selling point (along with the fact that they don't need to watch someone piss) but their real selling point (for us) is that nice set of detection times. I don't recall at hand the reasons (and I think pot might be more like 3 days) for the much shortened detection times, although I suspect its the fact that the drug itself is detected, not certain metabolites, at least in most of the tests. Very nice for the pot smokers here.