Urine vs Saliva drug test kits

Drug testing is common practice in workplaces, they can be pre-employment drug testing, regular testing or random testing. The latter two are most common and sometimes made compulsory in safety-sensitive industries.

In a world where ensuring safety and maintaining productivity is of utmost importance, choosing the most suitable method of testing is of paramount importance. In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between the two testing methods and help you decide which is best for you and your workplace.

Understanding urine drug test kits

Urine drug testing is a favourite among many corporations and law enforcement agencies because they are known to be highly accurate and easy to administer. Urine drug test kits from Andatech are able to detect up to 15 different drug groups through a single test.

This testing method works by detecting specific drug metabolites within a urine sample, providing insight into an individual’s recent history of drug usage.

Collecting urine samples

With urine drug test kits like the DrugSense DSU11, collecting the urine sample becomes super convenient. Each unit from Andatech comes in a foil bag for protection and to avoid any tampering, and ensure accurate results. The steps for this is as follows

1. Tear the protective foil bag
2. Open the test cup lid and collect the urine samples (the ideal volume should be between 30 and 110 ml.
3. The temperature validation strip will verify freshly collected urine at 34 degrees celsius)
4. After 5 minutes, read the results.

Note that the DrugSense DSU11 also detects alcohol as well as 11 other major drug groups. Do not interpret results after 10 minutes

Advantages and limitations of urine drug testing

Some advantages of using urine drug test kits include:

• Capable of detecting a wide array of substances: Urine drug test kits from Andatech can detect drugs including fentanyl, oxycodone and buprenorphine on top of other common drug groups like methamphetamines, cannabis and ecstasy
• Longer detection window: Certain drug groups like cannabis can still be detected by urine drug kits up to 30 days after use.
• Rapid results: Test results after successfully administering a test will be displayed in minutes.

Some limitations of urine drug testing include

Privacy concerns

Higher potential for sample tampering: It is common practice for test subjects to use ‘clean’ urine samples from peers to circumvent drug tests

Exploring saliva drug test kits

When it comes to saliva drug test kits like the DrugSense DSO8 Plus from Andatech are able to detect the presence of substances or substance metabolites from an oral sample. This method is seen as less invasive and easier to administer.

Collecting a saliva sample

Just like the DrugSense DSU11, the DrugSense DSO8 Plus also comes in a protective foil to avoid any tampering. Once it is removed, the details of the test subject is to be noted on the test cup. Once done, follow the steps below

1. Unscrew the collecter from the test cup: The collector is attached to the cap of the test kit and contains a sponge at the tip which will be used to collect the saliva sample.
2. Collect a saliva sample: The officer in charge is to place the sponge in the test subject’s mouth and let it sit until the sponge becomes fully saturated.
3. Reinsert collector into test cup: After the sample has been collected, firmly screw the collector back into the test cup
4. Results will be displayed in 10 minutes: Peel off the label along the indicated lines to view the test results.

Pros and cons of saliva drug test kits

Some pros of using saliva drug test kits include:

Easier administration: The need for a private space will be reduced as a safety officer will need to be present to administer the test

Non-invasive: Extracting a saliva sample is easier than a urine sample and can be seen as less invasive.

Reduced chances of tampering: With a safety officer present to extract the saliva sample, the chances of tampering with the sample are reduced.

One limitation of using saliva drug test kits is

Shorter detection windows: Oral specimens are generally able to indicate drug usage within 48 hours after the last use.

Saliva drug testing methods are generally easier to administer and can be employed on a regular basis. Despite results having to take longer to be seen, the overall process of administering the test can be faster.

Although having a shorter detection window, saliva drug test kits can still be useful for organisations administering drug testing.

Learn more about in-depth drug testing windows in our blog post, ‘How long do drugs stay in your system?’

Conclusion

From our discussion, it’s clear that both saliva and urine drug test kits have their strong points and can provide benefits to users depending on the situation. Choosing between the two depends on factors such as desired detection window, frequency of testing and the substances being tested for.

If drug testing is a daily or weekly occurrence, it’s best to opt for saliva drug testing but if you’re looking to perform more thorough and in-depth drug testing at your workplace (in the case of suspected drug abuse at work or similar cases) urine testing would be the way to go.

Consult Andatech for free drug and alcohol testing consultation to have a better grasp on how you can successfully implement an effective drug and alcohol testing policy in your organisation.

All drug test kits from Andatech, be it saliva drug test kits or urine drug test kits, comply with cut-off levels specified by Australian Standard AS4760, ensuring its accuracy in detecting drugs in individuals.