Oral Fluid Best for Drug Testing - Federal Report

Federal Study Compares Oral Fluid and Blood Testing for Drugs - Technical Report
National Highway Safety Traffic Administration
NHSTA - DOT

HIGHLIGHTS / SUMMARY

1. Testing included Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, as well as typical " DOT Opiates " - heroin, morphine, codeine.

2. Testing included Ecstasy ( MDMA ), MDA, MDEA, as well as typical " DOT Amphetamines

3. Comparisons made using ELIZA and GC/MS - N=639

4. Drivers selected randomly

5. 23 % POSITIVE rate overall - 15% POSITIVE for DRUGS, 8% for Alcohol only (13% Drugs only, 2% Drugs & Alcohol, 8% Alcohol only)

6. 2/3 of those TESTING POSITIVE did NOT admit to prior drug use during the prior YEAR .

7. 70% POSITIVE with oral fluid, 30% refused BLOOD sample

8. Most POSITIVES resulted from THC, Cocaine, and Opiates

9. " Strong correlation between oral fluid and blood tests

10. " Oral fluid appears to be a better specimen type for the detection of recent cocaine use."

11. " Oral fluid accounted for more total POSITIVES than blood"


Source: www.nhsta.dot.gov Oral Fluid and Blood Analysis 2008, Technical Report 2007, DOT HS 810 704