Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which drugs can you detect in oral fluid?
The Intercept™ oral fluid drug test is a laboratory based test which can detect: marijuana, opiates, amphetamine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines and cocaine, which represent the most common drugs requested by employers for workplace drug testing. Other assays (methadone, barbiturates, PCP) are available to service the needs of the health and corrective services, life insurance companies etc. All assays are FDA cleared, in compliance with the new oral fluid cut-off levels from DTAB (Drug Testing Advisory Board).

2. How does the detection window for oral fluid testing compare with other methods?
Just like traditional urine testing, the window in oral fluid testing is different for each drug. But unlike urine oral fluid testing identifies "current usage" - during the first four hours after drug use - that can be missed by urine testing. For most drugs, the window of detection in oral fluid is measured in hours ("same-day use"). By contrast, urine testing relies on drug metabolites retained in the body's waste system with a detection window that is measured in days ("recent use"). For a complete comparison of a traditional laboratory based urine drug test and the Intercept™ oral fluid drug test see: Urine vs. Oral Fluid.

3. What methodology is being employed?
Oral fluid samples are first screened in a laboratory using enzyme immunoassay technology, proven reliable for routine drug testing. Any samples that test positive in the screening process are then subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry (GC/MS-MS), the latest in drug confirmation technology. This tandem "MS", as it is called, provides the most sensitive fingerprint available, of the drug being targeted.

4. Can an oral fluid test be beaten?
A wide range of adulterants have been studied but nothing have been and have not found that can beat the test. Of course, donors may attempt to introduce something onto the pad or collection vial, but since every collection is directly and easily observed it is highly unlikely they will succeed.

5. Who collects the sample?
The beauty of oral fluid testing is that the donor collects his or her own sample under direct visual supervision. The donor places the collection pad in his or her cheek and gum for at least two minutes. Once the absorbent collection pad is saturated, it is placed in a vial, the handle of the collection device is snapped off at the rim of the vial, the vial is sealed, and the donor initials the seal. The entire process takes just 5 minutes and is very cost-efficient compared to urine.

6. How much does it cost?
Oral fluid can be significantly less than traditional urine testing. The economic advantage of the Intercept™ oral fluid drug test is that it can reduce the cost of collections, scheduling fees, and the time lost for employees to travel to collection sites to provide their urine sample.

7. What is the turnaround time?
The results of the 20 screening tests in the starter kit will be reported within a couple of days.

8. Isn't oral fluid a hazardous fluid?
No. Because the testing methodology is not classified as a "dental process," oral fluid collection is not considered hazardous. In addition, oral fluid specimens are not subject to the same handling and disposal issues that face other body fluids.

9. How do you know if you have enough sample to test?
If the donor keeps the collection pad in his or her mouth for at least two minutes, as indicated on the package, there is enough to test. The collection pad is treated with salts to stimulate oral fluid secretion, making the process very reliable. In fact, based on experience from life insurance testing, LabOne (in the USA) reported only 1 in 10,000 samples insufficient for testing.