What is Oral fluid drug testing?

And why is it important for your workplace?

Creating a safe, compliant workplace is one of your core responsibilities as an employer or supervisor. You’re committed to protecting your team, your clients, and your company’s reputation by ensuring that everyone is fit for duty and your operations meet regulatory standards.

A key part of that commitment is implementing an effective drug and alcohol testing program. Workplace testing helps identify risks early, supports a culture of safety, and ensures that employees can perform their jobs responsibly. There are several reliable methods available to screen for drug and alcohol use—each suited to different environments, industries, and needs. One of the most common approaches is oral fluid drug testing. 

Oral fluid drug testing is a modern, reliable method that works quickly and is minimally invasive. Both easy to use and practical, with quick results, it’s a popular method among employers all across Canada. 

In this blog, we’ll explore oral fluid drug testing, what it is, how it compares to other drug testing methods, and how CannAmm can help you implement oral fluid drug testing at your workplace. 

What is oral fluid drug testing? 

Oral fluid drug testing is a testing method used to determine whether or not someone has drugs in their system by using their saliva. Many workplaces prefer this method over others because it’s quick, minimally invasive, and can be done almost anywhere without the need for privacy, as opposed to methods like urine testing. 

Oral fluid drug testing is a popular option because it can detect recent drug use, often within minutes to a few hours after consumption. This shorter detection window makes it especially valuable in situations where recent use or potential impairment is a concern. Compared to other methods like urine testing, which typically identifies drug use over a longer timeframe, oral fluid testing offers a more immediate view of recent activity. That makes it ideal for post-incident or reasonable suspicion scenarios where timely results are critical for maintaining safety. 

How is oral fluid drug testing different from other methods?

As you already know, there are several different methods for testing for drugs in the workplace. Each one has its own benefits and limitations. Oral testing is most commonly compared to urine and hair testing.

Oral fluid vs urine testing

Urine testing is one of the most commonly recognized methods of drug testing, but it does have limitations. The process can feel invasive and requires a private setting for sample collection, which introduces potential challenges. Because the donor must provide the sample in private, there’s an increased risk of tampering or substitution. Additionally, urine testing doesn’t detect drugs immediately after use. It typically takes several hours—or longer—for substances to be metabolized and appear in the urine, making it less effective for identifying very recent use.

Many workplaces prefer oral fluid drug testing because it is minimally invasive, easy to administer, and allows for observed collection without compromising comfort or privacy. It is well-suited for detecting recent substance use, making it a valuable option in situations where timely insight is important for maintaining a safe and compliant work environment. 

Oral fluid vs hair testing 

Hair drug testing is known for its long detection window—typically up to 90 days—which makes it more suitable for identifying patterns of chronic or long-term substance use. However, it cannot reliably detect recent use, which significantly limits its value in situations requiring recent insight, such as suspected on-site impairment. For this reason, and because more effective and timely testing methods are available, hair testing is used only rarely in our industry. It’s also important to note that CannAmm does not offer hair drug testing as part of our services.

In contrast, oral fluid drug testing provides detection of recent use, making it an excellent tool for scenarios where timely decision-making is critical. This method is ideal for reasonable cause testing, post-incident investigations, and mitigating safety risks, as it offers a reliable snapshot of recent substance use without being invasive or difficult to administer.

What do you need to know as a supervisor?

As a supervisor, it’s your job to keep your clients and employees safe, especially when it comes to substance use at work. Understanding how and when to administer oral fluid drug testing is a crucial part of this leadership and making sure that your employees and clients remain safe at work. 

One of the most important things you should know is when and how to use oral fluid drug testing for your workplace. Oral fluid testing can be used in situations such as post-incident, reasonable cause, or as part of a random testing day for employees. It can also be used when employees return to duty after a period of time off due to substance abuse issues or other misconduct. 

As a supervisor, you must also be aware of the legal policies and procedures that go into drug testing. For example, you have to know how to properly document and escalate concerns, what counts as reasonable cause for testing, and how to recognize signs of drug and alcohol impairment. 

How can CannAmm help?

As a supervisor, there’s a lot to understand when it comes to drug and alcohol testing, especially when it involves oral fluid testing. But maintaining a safe workplace goes beyond just knowing how a test works. It also means being properly trained to recognize the signs of impairment and understanding when and how to initiate testing protocols. This knowledge is essential for making informed decisions that protect both employees and the organization.

That’s where we come in. CannAmm offers a variety of training and workplace safety courses to help you and your fellow supervisors, and even your employees, feel safe and prepared to do your jobs. With training from CannAmm, you’ll feel confident to recognize the signs of impairment and know what to do when the time comes for testing. 

Ready to learn more? Contact us today and learn how we can bring training, guidance, and safety to your workplace. 

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