Why do some prefer oral fluid (oral swab) tests to urine tests?
The oral fluid cut-off levels are safety-based levels set in consultation with experts. One significant difference between urine and oral fluid testing resides with the marijuana measurement, which for oral fluid has a shorter “window of detection” than urine based testing. At the levels set in RSAP oral fluid tests have a 12-20 hours window of detection for the marijuana panel. This means that a test will identify past marijuana use up to 20 hours prior to the test. Many view this measurement to be more workplace related and less likely to bring into review a person’s off-duty lifestyle. Also, the collection of the oral fluid sample is more dignified in that it does not call upon the donor to submit a urine sample. Oral fluid is collected by a swab being placed in the mouth by the donor under the observation of the collector. Others like the fact that oral fluid tests are all observed so the risk of tampering of a sample is less than with urines test, which are unobserved except in sp
