Detection time of drugs in saliva

Substance testing has been in use for many years, particularly by law enforcement officers and security agencies; but these days, such tests are available for every individual to order online and perform in the intimacy of their own home. There are multiple ways of substance testing, which differ mainly based on sample type (hair, urine, saliva, etc.) and the time frame that has passed since the consumption of the substance/substances. In this article, we will focus on the particulars of saliva testing and its comparison with other forms of testing.

Saliva testing

Normally a saliva test is performed in order to find out if the person tested has consumed any illicit substances in recent hours. Due to the short time window in which it can be detected, saliva is a suitable sample matrix for determining the impairment of the person in question at the moment of testing. Whereas a urine test could also indicate this, such tests do not come with a 100% assurance that the tested person is still under the influence of that specific substance, but rather if the substance was used in the recent days.

Oral fluid testing of any type however cannot be used to speculate or verify frequency or longevity of drug use by the tested individual.

Saliva testing has one of the shortest time frames of detection compared to other testing methods. It is generally unable to detect the presence of substances for longer than 72 hours from use — though this can at times be reduced to even just a couple of hours. However, drugs are detectable within just a few minutes after consumption, and results are nigh on impossible to manipulate.

Although there are some guidelines regarding the time frames in which drugs remain detectable in saliva, we want to emphasise that this rests on a number of factors — namely the substance used, the way it was consumed, and so forth.

As an overview, the table below gives the time frames for the detectability of the most commonly-used drugs:

If you know you are likely to be tested soon or you suspect the use of illicit substances by your loved ones, the simplest option is to perform a test yourself (preferably with the consent of the persons you intend to test — if this is the case). Stop doubting, start testing!