DOT Backs Mouth Swabs for Drug Testing

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will soon accept saliva samples for its drug testing program. 

Currently, the only accepted testing option is a urine sample, according to a May 2 Federal Register posting.  

This is because when federal regulators last reviewed testing procedures in 2004, they concluded that cheek swabs were inadequate. However, the “scientific viability of oral fluid testing has greatly advanced since 2004,” the notice states. 

The goal of adding mouth swabs is to combat cheating on drug tests, as the fluid collection would be done in front of an observer, and provide a less intrusive means of testing. It’s also $10-20 less expensive to test saliva. 

This avenue won’t be available immediately, however. For an employer to test oral fluids, the “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will need to certify at least two laboratories for oral fluid testing, which has not yet been done,” according to the posting. 

The rule will go into effect June 1.