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Saliva Drug Tests
Simple and fast test, 99% accuracy- Drug screening samples are almost identical to those obtained from blood samples. A saliva drug test is a saliva measurement instrument in the user, capable of detecting up to 5 drugs in the individual, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, benzodiazepines, and opiates. Results can analyze in the first 2 minutes.
Drug Tests
Biochemical tests are helpful tools to detect recent drug use in sporadic and regular users. There are various modes of analysis, depending on the object analyzed — blood, saliva, urine, hair, etc.
Through a saliva test, it can determine that there has been consumption of psychoactive substances. However, its detection depends on the degree of concentration of the essence in the blood, among other factors.
However, the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, cannabis, opiates, amphetamines and methamphetamines can monitor with saliva. As well as the presence of barbiturates, benzodiazepines, codeine, etc.
Likewise, the analysis of saliva allows drug and alcohol controls to carry out, which is why it is a test applied to drivers. They are used to gauge if you are driving under the influence of drugs.
When should you Choose Saliva Tests Instead of Urine Tests?
When the drug detection range we are looking for is shorter. Oral Fluid (Saliva) tests can detect drug use immediately after the most recent help and up to 24 hours later (THC) or up to 2 days later for other substances. Urine drug tests continue to detect THC several days later, with detectable cases after 7 – 14 days. Conventional urine drug tests usually cannot detect drug use if the drug was first used within the last 6 hours from the testing time.
When we seek to detect if the individual is under the influence of drugs: The short detection window of the drug tests allows us to know if the individual consumes any drug in the last hours and thus able to attend to any situation (Emergency due to suspicion of overdose, accident, lack of skill in driving a vehicle or transportation equipment.
How long do Drugs Stay in Saliva?
Saliva tests can detect the attendance of drugs almost immediately after consumption and even after up to 4 days.
Thanks to its rapid detection capacity, this type of test is very useful in drug controls. In addition, they are much easier to perform, they are always done under supervision, and saliva samples can collect almost anywhere. Below we tell you how they work and what the detection times are.
How does the Saliva Drugs Test Work?
Saliva tests are indicated for the recent detection of narcotic drugs or to know if a person is under the influence of these substances. Among the main advantages of these tests, we also find their excellent ability to detect a wide variety of drugs between 1 to 4 days.
The saliva test measures the psychoactive element of the drug. In this way, the detection of this compound will also indicate its presence in blood. The only problem is that detection times and duration depend on various factors. For example, a regular user will be more likely to test positive. This is because the period of the drug in saliva will also be long.
Detection Time of Drugs in Saliva
Detection times may also vary for a person who is not a regular consumer. Metabolic rate, body mass, age, dose consumed, etc. These are some of the variables that will influence the result. For a more active person, the detection time will not be as long compared for someone who is overweight or has higher body fat.
1. Alcohol
With the saliva test, alcohol consumption can detect practically immediately, and it only disappears after approximately 12 hours.
2. Cannabis
Cannabis can detect in just 1 hour, and although its effects usually last just a few hours, its presence in saliva does not disappear until a minimum of 3 or 4 days have passed.
3. Cocaine
Another drug detected faster in saliva tests is cocaine since it can see in just 5 or 10 minutes after consumption and does not disappear until 24 hours have passed.
4. Opiates
Opioids can detect approximately 1 hour after consumption and last between 7 and 21 hours in saliva.
5. Amphetamine and Methamphetamine
Like cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine can also detect immediately after consumption, between 5 and 10 minutes. In addition, its presence can last up to 72 hours.
The Advantages of Saliva Drug Testing
Saliva tests determine if a person has used or is under the influence of any drug. It does this by measuring the number of psychoactive compounds in the consumer’s body, especially in the blood.
Unlike urine or blood tests, saliva tests allow drug use to be detected immediately. That is, it can provide a positive result in a few minutes if the person took toxic substances shortly before. Here lies its extraordinary effectiveness as a drug detection test: it can only be applied and its immediate results.
Factors Influencing the Residence Time of Saliva Drug Tests
This drug test can collect, on average, up to 4 days after consumption. Although, it tends to apply more effectively during the first hours after consumption.
But it all depends on the person’s frequency or drug use habit: Well, the higher the frequency of substance abuse, the easier it will you to get a positive result on your saliva test.
A different case is that of a sporadic consumer: The time that narcotic or psychotropic drugs remain in the salivary zone depends on various physical or physiological factors such as:
Body fat and user weight: The lower the body weight, the shorter the time it takes for the substance to break down and eliminate from the body.
Own metabolism: not everyone assimilates the psychoactive substance in their body with the same speed. Type of drug that has consumes and its quantity, since the Meta obligation process of some of them, lasts longer than that of others.
Emotional state: tiredness, drowsiness, anxiety, or other illnesses can influence the time of decomposition and elimination of the drug in the body.
Level of physical activity: In an active person’s case, its elimination will be faster than in a sedentary person.
The level of body hydration: since the more hydrated the body is, the sooner traces of drugs disappear. Therefore, the amount of water that is ingested can dissolve the consumption levels of some medicines more quickly.
How long do Drugs Last in Saliva?
Each type of psychoactive substance has components that can remain more or less time in saliva. Most of the authors assure that the saliva controls only detect the consumptions made 6 hours before the test, or at least during the same day. However, the presence of some substances may last longer.
When are Saliva Drug Tests Most Used?
Saliva tests are pretty recent. In our country, they are often used to control drug abuse in drivers. In countries like the US, its use is beginning to spread in the business world, where workers undergo random saliva tests.
When necessary, the civil guard agents carry out drug tests on saliva, as a preventive measure or on drivers who manifest reckless driving. In both cases, the driver asks to provide saliva to assess his level of consumption of psychoactive substances.
Conclusion
In recent times, salivary drug controls gain prominence due to their easy application and immediate result. Below we present the advantages of saliva drug tests and how long it lasts, depending on the type of toxic substance consumed. In most cases, these are indicative tests that show a positive or negative effect of consumption.
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