Why choose AlphaBiolabs for oral fluid drug testing?

  • Rapid results
  • Most commonly-used drugs tested – including prescription medications
  • User-friendly reports accepted in every Family Court
  • ISO 17025 accredited testing laboratory
  • All pricing within Legal Aid Board rates
  • Our Price Promise – we will beat any like-for-like quote by a further 10%
  • Expert advice and a dedicated Case Manager to fully manage your instruction
  • Sample collections from any location within 24-48 hours of instruction
  • FREE legally-instructed sample collections at our Walk-in Centres
 

Oral fluid (saliva) drug testing explained

  • 1 When a person consumes drugs, they are broken down by the liver, and a proportion of the drug and its metabolites are released into the bloodstream, while some of the drug is excreted from the body in a variety of ways, including through saliva.
  • 2 The test works by analysing a sample of saliva (oral fluid) for the presence of drugs and their metabolites.
 
  • 3 Oral fluid drug testing provides what is known as a ‘narrow-window’ detection period of up to 48 hours after drugs were consumed.
  • 4 Oral fluid drug testing can be used effectively to complement hair or nail drug testing (both of which provide an insight into historic drug use) to give a much more detailed, accurate picture of an individual’s long-term and short-term drug use.
  • Oral fluid drug testing is ideal for regular use during active Tusla involvement, before or during court proceedings. For example, where a parent has sole access to a child over a weekend or following planned access visits.
  • It is also useful where the Family Court requires regular, repeat drug testing as part of ongoing childcare proceedings.
Drug testing
 

What drugs we test for

Our oral fluid testing is performed in-house at our accredited laboratory.

The main drugs we test for are:

Sample collection

  • When collecting a sample for point-of-care testing, our professional sample collectors prepare the oral fluid device. This is equipped with an absorbent sample pad that is rubbed around the inside of the sample donor’s mouth to collect saliva for testing.
  • Once the sample has been collected, the sample collector will put the absorbent pad into the test cassette.
  • For a negative result, a line will appear next to each of the substance classes shown on the device, indicating that no substances were detected in the sample.
  • For a non-negative result, a line will fail to appear next to one or more of the substance classes shown on the device. This indicates that the corresponding substance was detected in the saliva sample.
  • If the test returns a non-negative result, two further saliva samples will be taken by the sample collector and returned to our in-house toxicology lab for in-depth analysis, and confirmation of the test result.
  • We also offer back-to-lab oral fluid drug testing. For this test, there is no instant screening. Instead, our sample collector will collect oral fluid samples at a convenient time/location for your client, or at a walk-in centre. The samples are then returned to our laboratory for testing.

    See FAQ: What are the options for oral fluid drug testing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Our oral fluid (saliva) drug tests are extremely reliable and accurate, based on the sample provided by the donor at the time of collection.

Our sample collectors follow strict procedures throughout the collection process to ensure that chain of custody is maintained, and results are legally defensible.

Laboratory confirmation for non-negative samples provides further reassurance that all drug tests results are 100% reliable, and that the findings are accurate. Furthermore, detailed laboratory analysis removes any doubt whatsoever about which substances were detected.

Tusla social workers and family law solicitors involved in child protection and welfare cases are increasingly using oral fluid testing to build a clearer picture of parental drug use.

The narrow detection window of up to 48 hours for oral fluid drug testing is ideal when it is suspected that someone might be under the influence of drugs in the ‘here and now’.

Oral fluid testing is easy to administer, difficult to adulterate, and requires no special facilities for sample collection. It is also non-invasive and more hygienic than some other forms of drug testing, making it ideal for cases where repeat testing at regular intervals is needed.

We offer two options for oral fluid drug testing:

  • Point-of-care testing: our professional sample collector performs an instant screening. If the test returns a non-negative result (one or more substances are detected), the sample is returned to our laboratory for analysis and confirmation of the result.
  • Back-to-lab screening: the oral fluid sample is collected by one of our professional sample collectors at a convenient time or location for your client (e.g. home), or at one of our walk-in centres. There is no instant screening. Instead, the sample is collected and returned to our laboratory for testing, and confirmation where there is a non-negative result.

All legal tests are performed under strict chain of custody conditions, maintaining the integrity of the sample, and ensuring all test results are court-admissible.

Contact our New Enquiry team on 01 402 9466 / testing@alphabiolabs.com to discuss the requirements of your case.

Alternatively, complete our online quote form, and a member of our team will be in touch.

An oral fluid drug test does not detect alcohol, as it is designed to identify the use of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines etc.

However, AlphaBiolabs provides a wide range of court-admissible alcohol tests for chronic and excessive use or abstinence, including hair and nail alcohol tests, blood alcohol tests, breath alcohol tests, and SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring®.

To request a quote for an alcohol test, contact our New Enquiry team on 01 402 9466 / testing@alphabiolabs.com.

The cost of an oral fluid drug test varies depending on the requirements of the instructing party.

AlphaBiolabs offers more than just great prices, but in the unlikely event that you find a more competitive like-for-like quote, we will beat it by a further 10%.

To request a quote for oral fluid drug testing, contact our New Enquiry team on 01 402 9466 / testing@alphabiolabs.com.

Alternatively, complete our online quote form, and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss your needs.