Last updated : May 12, 2025
The mouth swab drug test is becoming increasingly popular with Atlanta employers because it can be conducted literally anywhere. Unlike the more common urinalysis which requires a private bathroom, a mouth swab, or oral fluid drug test can be performed in plain view, making it the perfect choice for any non-DOT drug screening program.
Employers who want to increase productivity and reduce accidents know that a drug screening program is essential, and now thanks to mouth swab drug testing, it’s convenient too.
Mouth Swab Drug Test Process
A USAMDT test administrator can conduct a mouth swab drug test anywhere with no need for a private bathroom.
They will identify the employees to be tested, collect a saliva sample from the inner cheek with a sterile Q-tip, then secure it into a plastic sample vial for delivery to our lab, where immunoassay and gas chromatography or mass spectrometry testing will screen for drug use. The Medical Review Officer (MRO) and employer will be notified of the results electronically.
Drugs Tested
Most drugs can be identified using mouth swab drug testing, including;
- Amphetamine
- Barbiturate
- Benzodiazepine
- Cannabis (Marijuana/THC)
- Cocaine
- Hydrocodone
- Methadone
- Methaqualone
- Opiate
- Oxycodone
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Propoxyphene
Pros and Cons
Mouth Swab vs. Urinalysis
Mouth swab drug testing is more convenient since it doesn’t require a private bathroom, but the downside is that it has a shorter testing window. While it can return a positive result as soon as a few hours after a test subject has used drugs, it can only identify drug use for the previous 2-4 days. It’s also not an accepted testing method for DOT drug testing, which currently only allows urine drug testing.
Mouth Swab vs. Hair Follicle
Both mouth swab and hair follicle drug testing offer similar convenience, but they differ in the length of their testing window. Hair follicle drug testing generally covers a longer window (up to 90 days) but can not detect drug use from the previous 5-10 days, while mouth swab drug testing covers 2-4 days, and can detect drug use in just a few hours after use.