Oral fluid is today, generally collected by using absorbent cotton swabs.  Collection can be stimulated or un-stimulated.  Swabs, which stimulate the flow of oral fluid, are typically impregnated with salts and citric acid.  They may also have a protein (gelatin) coating.  The salts and citric acid stimulate salivation and may marginally reduce the sample collection time.  The disadvantage is that stimulants like citric acid can alter the pH in the oral cavity and have a direct effect on the level of drug recovery from oral fluid (Cone 1993).

The gelatin assists elution of the sample from the treated pad but has the disadvantage of making the swab inappropriate for vegetarians, vegans and some religious groups. Difficulties can also arise due to donors finding the taste of the pad unpleasant.

Untreated swabs are preferable for drugs and abuse testing.  They do not interfere with the natural pH in the mouth.  Collection may take a little longer if the donor has a dry mouth, however a drink of water 10 minutes prior to the collection process usually alleviates this.  Alternatively there are sugar free pastilles available.  The occasional donor who suffers an excessively dry mouth can suck during collection.  This will mildly stimulate salivation without adversely affecting drug recovery.

The oral collection Physical Health Screens use is an un-stimulated oral fluid sample.  This removes the risk of a reduction in drug recovery.

The device collects a precise (1mL) volume of sample.  The collected sample is diluted 1/3 in the proprietary buffer.  The sample provides sufficient volume for initial screening and multiple drug classes and GC/MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) confirmation of any positive drug class found.

Physical Health Screens use Chain of Custody (COC), which provides appropriate safeguards for UK Criminal Justice testing.    The chain of custody protocol fully complies with UK guidelines and international best practice, thus maximizing defensibility in the event of any legal challenge.

The following drug classes can be tested for with oral fluid:

• Amphetamines
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines
• Buprenorphine
• Cannabinoids
• Cocaine
• Continnine (Nicotine Metabolite)
• Methadone
• Methamphetamine/MDMA (ecstasy)
• Morphine Specific
• Opiates
• PCP

If you require our services please ask the donor to declare ALL medications taken prescribed or self-administered in the 7 days prior to sample collection.

We can test for any drug not listed above on your request.