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THC Saliva Test Information

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the hallucinatory chemical in marijuana that reacts with a person's brain and causes a euphoric or "high" feeling. An oral detection test can find the chemical in a drug user's saliva.

  1. The Test

    • A THC saliva test is relatively easy to administer. Saliva can be gathered by placing either an absorbent pad or a swab in a suspected drug user's mouth. The pad or swab will react based on the amount of THC in the suspect's saliva.

    Benefits

    • An oral saliva test is the least intrusive way to check someone for drug usage. The test can be administered quickly and simply in almost any environment. The tests are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased easily.

    Warnings

    • THC is present in a user's saliva for a relatively short period of time, usually 12 hours to 24 hours. The test can also be contaminated by food or other substances present in the user's mouth at the time of the test.

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