Last updated : December 2, 2024
It’s a pretty safe bet that most Las Vegas residents in the workforce have submitted to an employee drug test. Employers that don’t want to risk the safety of their employees, guests, or patrons drug test. In short, drug testing deters use. The urine test is by far the most widely used, however, the mouth swab drug test is worthy of a second look if you want to detect recent use.
Mouth swab drug testing technology is evolving making them more and more desirable to employers and others who conduct drug testing. Law enforcement agencies, for example, use them more often if suspecting someone is impaired by drug use during a routine traffic stop.
Detection periods
Mouth swab tests identify both the parent drug and the drug metabolites left behind after the body metabolizes the drug. And, these tests identify them quickly! Some drugs are detected within seconds of use. However, they only detect use up to seventy-two hours depending on the drug.
Methamphetamine, opiates, and amphetamine tip the scale in regard to detection. They can be identified up to three days after last use. Most drugs range more in the “up to one day period” of time.
For instance:
- Alcohol — immediately detected after consumption up to a half a day later
- Marijuana — detected one hour after use up to twenty-four hours later
- Cocaine — detected minutes after consumption and up to one day after use
While ideal for some who hope to catch recent or current impairment, the short window of detection causes some to shy away from the mouth swab drug test.
Notably, though, some employers do use this test in certain circumstances. They prove an excellent choice for reasonable suspicion testing or in post-accident situations when current impairment is suspect. However, they may use another method for other employee drug testing.
Administering the test
The test could be likened to popping a sucker in your mouth. Okay, it would have to be a tasteless sucker that doesn’t dissolve, but we did say “likened to” so it still works. All that aside, it’s very easy to administer.
After the identification process, the collector places a mouth swab in the test subject’s mouth between the cheek and lower gum. It remains until it becomes saturated with saliva. The process usually takes up to five minutes.
Then, the collector removes the swab and places it in a container for transport to the lab. The test subject signs off on the paperwork and that’s the end of it.
Results return within a couple of days.
No way to falsify
The mouth swab test requires no privacy, so the collector is always in full view of the test subject. There is no way to substitute or tamper with the mouth swab test.
In addition, the body constantly excretes saliva into the mouth. Therefore, products such as mouthwashes or gum, and home remedies that claim to “beat” the test are misleading. The drug metabolites in the saliva can’t be masked.
Reading the results
USA Mobile Drug Testing offers our customers a variety of drug testing panels and the mouth swab drug test easily applies to all of them. With the exception, of course, to the DOT drug test which requires using the urine drug test.
We provide you with uniform test results no matter the method used.
- Positive — indicates drug use
- Negative — indicates no drug use
- Inconclusive — indicates neither a positive nor a negative result
Drugs identified
USA Mobile Drug Testing uses the latest drug testing technology. Our collectors professionally and efficiently perform your employee drug testing meeting your specified procedure.
We offer customers a number of standard drug testing panels.
- 5 panel drug test
- 9 panel drug test
- 10 panel drug test
- 12 panel drug test
Moreover, employers may create a specific test panel from scratch or replace certain drugs on our standard panel with others of their choosing. You also have the option of putting additional drugs on the test.
We also offer specialty drug tests to identify bath salts or synthetic marijuana for example.
The list of drugs included on our standard test panels includes:
- Propoxyphene
- PCP (Phencyclidine)
- Percocet/Oxycodone
- Opiates
- Methamphetamine
- Methaqualone/Quaaludes
- Methadone
- Marijuana
- Hydrocodone
- Ecstasy/MDMA
- Cocaine
- Benzodiazepines
- Barbiturates
- Amphetamine
We want to make sure you are aware that not all manufacturers adhere to the same list of drugs contained on their standard test panels. There are no regulations requiring them to do so. Make sure you know the drugs identified on the panel you choose for your company. That way you can tweak it if necessary.
The reason
Workplace accidents are more likely to happen when someone has impaired thinking and motor skills. The employee may think they’re drug use has made them extremely focused and uber-productive, however, their actions may be raising a reasonable suspicion flag by those around them.
Employers drug test for safety’s sake.
The ripple effect of drugs in the workplace show up in cost. Employers lose billions of dollars a year to increased absenteeism, tardiness, increased insurance expenses, and lower productivity. Not to mention the expense of retraining for positions. Drug users job hop a lot.
There’s more to employee drug testing though.
Drug addiction has reached epidemic proportions in our country. Thousands of lives are lost each year. Families suffer or are destroyed every day. Employees who use drugs need help whether they realize it or not.
Popping positive on an employee drug test could ultimately save their life.
It could be the wake-up call that puts your employee on the path to rehabilitation. Having a list of resources available that offer help is a gesture that may not be well received at the moment. However, offer a kind word when you hand it to them and hope.
We’ll hope, too.