An easier and more efficient drug testing alternative to urine samples is now available for the first time in New
Zealand through Canterbury Health Laboratories.
A saliva drug test, also known as an oral fluid or a mouth swab drug test, can replace traditional urine tests to detect
recent drug use. Many workplaces use urine tests to detect drug use as part of their health and safety efforts.
Typically, these are done at specific testing locations to make sure the sample is correctly gathered and not tampered
with.
Canterbury Health Laboratories Head of Toxicology Grant Moore says the saliva test offers significant benefits for
employers and is more convenient for those being tested.
“Employers can have their own swab kits and do it themselves on site rather than using an external testing agency. They
can also directly observe the test.
“For those being tested it means they aren’t having to travel for their test and it is less invasive to collect a mouth
swab than a urine sample,” says Grant.
Use of amphetamine-type substances, opiates, cannabis and cocaine within a preceding 24 hour period can be detected by
the saliva test, depending on the substance.
“The advantage of testing saliva is that urine testing picks up drugs that have passed through the body whereas saliva
registers drugs that may have just been taken but have not yet been fully processed internally.
“This means that, depending on an organisation’s employment policies, it could be used straight away if impairment was
suspected or a workplace accident has occurred, and the test is sent away for testing with results within four to five
days,” Grant says.
The screening test will indicate if a substance is detected. However, just as with urine testing, if a screening test
result doesn’t come back as negative, it needs to be confirmed by an accredited laboratory.
Saliva drug tests are more common overseas, but Canterbury Health Laboratories is the first laboratory in New Zealand
offering confirmatory testing for saliva/oral fluid tests. They also supply the swab collection kits for taking the
samples.
“People want their loved ones coming home safely from work.
“By making drug screening easier and more convenient we hope we can help make workplaces safer for more Kiwis,” says
Grant.
For further information on the saliva drug test kits and confirmatory testing by Canterbury Health Laboratories, contact info@workplacedrugtest.co.nz.