• Ease of collection:
  The collection of oral fluid is a noninvasive means of collecting a suitable specimen for analysis for drugs of abuse. In a matter of minutes, the sample is produced with direct observation that is not gender dependent. The sample is secured in a container that can be labeled and chain of custody precautions applied.

• Real time values:
  The oral fluid sample provides a good indication of recent drug use. Most drugs are present in the saliva for 2-4 days after use. This corresponds to the approximate times that the drugs are detected in the urine except for THC and PCP. Because THC and PCP are fat soluble, these drugs remain in the body longer and can be detected in the urine sometimes for weeks after usage. Thus, only recent use of THC and PCP can be detected in the oral fluid.

• Elimination of adulteration and substitution possibilities:
  Since the oral fluid sample is collected under direct observation, it would be difficult for the sample to be substituted or altered.

• Chain of Custody:
  The oral fluid collector can be easily labeled with the appropriate identification, the chain of custody paperwork completed and the collector sealed with confidentiality tape.

• Drugs detected at low concentrations:
  Since the levels of drugs are much lower in the oral fluid (saliva), different methodologies of testing are necessary to detect the drugs. The screening method is ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and the confirmation of positives is done by GC/MS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry).

The oral fluid collectors are available from San Diego Reference Laboratory and can be ordered from the Client Relations Department.