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Oral Fluid Testing Technologies

Prescribed testing is only one piece of an effective substance abuse policy. Traditionally when a policy called for a prescribed test, conventional urine testing has been the only viable option. In recent years, oral fluid technologies have advanced significantly, particularly in Point of Collection Test (POCT) devices.

Oral fluid testing presents employers significant advantages over conventional urine testing. The advantages fall more in line with an employer's OH&S responsibilities, and enable a better balance and consideration for a worker's human rights and privacy. It also presents the opportunity to take testing in-house. This can create additional value in terms of time, logistics and policy administrative costs.

Oral fluid's advantages over urine testing include:

  • Screening for "RECENT USE" verses historical use (as illustrated above);
  • Mitigating "cheating" to almost zero (adulteration and/or sample substitution);
  • Screening for the illicit drugs more prevalent in today's workplace (expanded opiates in particular);
  • Delivering results in minutes and on-site;
  • Being less invasive than tradition testing methods;
  • Has no gender or dignity issues; and
  • Has complete and integral confirmatory laboratory testing.

Chart demonstrating oral fluid testing's advantages over urine testing when dealing with recent verses historical use

Even though these benefits are claimed to be common to oral fluid POCT devices, individual oral fluid POCT device performance varies dramatically. Most oral fluid POCT devices do not perform to advertised concentration levels, and in many cases do not detect specified drug classes at all. As in any aspect of developing and implementing a substance abuse policy, due diligence is required choosing testing methods and devices.

Integrated's Oral Fluid Testing Technologies

VeroFit™ Oral Fluid Drug Screening Device

The new VeroFit™ is the premium oral fluid POCT device on the market today. It sets the industry standard for performance, quality, ease-of-use and dependability. More About VeroFit

The Q.E.D.® Saliva Alcohol Test

The QED is a qualitative instant alcohol test that is extremely easy to administer. The QED is the leading on-site rapid quantitative oral fluid alcohol test. More About Q.E.D.