|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oral Drug Levels - What do they mean? In general, what is in your blood, is in your saliva. If a drug is smoked like THC, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, you may also find these in the oral cavity, thus giving a positive, saliva drug test. Waiting 10 to 15 minutes before administering a test will normally get residual chemicals out of the mucous membranes (ie. like an alcohol breath test). Most drugs found in saliva are the parent compound which is the psychoactive drug. You may also find metabolites both as the active and the non-psychoactive drug: THC Delta 9 THC is the parent compound. When found in saliva, this means impairment, because the drug has entered the blood stream and affected the brain, thus affecting motor skills. Levels we have measured in saliva in the lab range from 0.5ng/mL to 150ng/mL (1 ng/mL = 1 part per billion). All of these mean the parent compound is available to the brain. The higher the level, the more drug ingested or the more recently the drug was used.Cocaine Cocaine is the parent compound. When found in saliva this means impairment (see above). Cocaine also produces metabolites (we measure two, Benzoylecgonine and Ecgonine methyl ester). These indicate when the Cocaine was consumed. Levels we have measured in saliva, in the lab range from 0.5ng/mL to 2000ng/mL.Methamphetamine Methamphetamine is the parent compound. When found in the saliva this means impairment (see above). A metabolite of Meth is Amphetamine, which is also a psychoactive drug. Levels range from 5ng/mL to 1000ng/mL.Opiates and Prescription drugs We measure the parent drug, thus when found in the saliva, this means it is affecting the brain. In general, levels we find are:
Questions, please call 866-492-2517 
Home - Saliva Testing - Drug Lists - References - FAQ - Contact - Drug Testing Science
Forensic Fluids Laboratories, 225 Parsons Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 - (269) 492-7700 |
|||||||||||||||
