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Oral Fluid (Saliva) Testing

Clean, fast, accurate and painless. Learn more about what makes our oral fluid testing for drug and alcohol use truly unique.

ABOUT OUR TESTING

Oral fluid (saliva) testing by Cansford Laboratories is a versatile and sensitive means of detecting drug use in the moment, or up to 48 hours later. This makes it ideal for random testing and for testing over long periods.

Oral fluid test results can be offered instantly, using point-of-care tests. Alternatively, samples can be sent to a laboratory and tested with greater accuracy. For this reason, point-of-care saliva testing is typically used to support other test methods

Our oral fluid testing forms part of our gold standard testing portfolio

Oral fluid testing has many advantages over urine testing – which is why we choose to not to offer the latter. Samples can be collected with supervision, which often isn’t possible with workplace urine testing. It’s also exceptionally difficult to tamper with saliva samples, when collected under supervision.

It’s important to note that oral fluid test results may only be used as court evidence where the chain of custody is maintained for the sample – in other words, that the claimant can prove that the sample hasn’t been tampered with.

Working with a laboratory like Cansford ensures the chain is maintained. This is not possible with off-the-shelf saliva testing kits, which also offer less accurate results than with tests performed by professionals.

What you need to know about oral fluid (saliva) testing

Detection window:

0 – 2 days

Collection method:

The sample is collected using an absorbent mouth swab and is painless and quick to do.

Advantages:

Oral fluid tests can be offered as a point-of-care or a laboratory test.

Difficult to tamper with the sample – and therefore to cheat the test.

Highly sensitive; highly accurate

Laboratory tests are highly sensitive and highly accurate.

Point-of-care results are offered nearly instantly but act as a screen and are therefore presumptive, Laboratory testing offers fast accurate results.

Disadvantages:

Only offers a limited detection window, and is therefore best suited to testing for drug use in-the-moment.

Donors only produce a limited amount of saliva. This can make retesting difficult.

At collection, donor may be nervous and suffer dry-mouth, which can make sample collection difficult.

Point-of-care test results must be confirmed by laboratory testing.

How does oral fluid testing work?

Drug & alcohol testing

Speed, service and accuracy in hair, blood, nail and oral fluid testing

Drug & alcohol testing

Proving paternal, maternal and sibling relationships via oral fluid testing

Drug & alcohol testing

Speed, service and accuracy in hair
nail and oral fluid testing

Testimonials

"Thank you for your magnificent and prompt service, you delivered on time and was very professional. I will definitely recommend your service to my colleagues."

Social Worker - London

"Thank you – very pleased with the speed of the results. Had issues with other companies with delays so will definitely be using Cansford again in the future"

Solicitor - London

"Great service as always. I always find your quick and efficient in responding to enquiries and it is so helpful to receive the results expeditiously."

Solicitor - West Sussex

"You and your team were all very friendly helpful and efficient. I got my results in good time. I would definitely recommend you."

Adam - Birmingham