Oral Fluid Drug Testing Program

Oral fluid (or saliva) collection is rapid, non-invasive, and simple. Oral fluid contains the active/impairing drug which likely represents recent drug use. We are the first state to offer a comprehensive Oral Fluid Drug Testing program at the State Crime Laboratory level. It is two-fold: (1) screening at the roadside and (2) evidentiary confirmation oral fluid drug testing at ADFS.

Excerpt from "Using Oral Fluid to Detect Drugs. Infographics. Sponsored by AAA. 2020."

First, we have validated and approved three “roadside” oral fluid drug screening devices that law enforcement can use during a DUI stop or crash to identify drug use. Field screening devices test for marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, opioids, and benzodiazepines. The devices are analogous to PBTs for alcohol and should be used to establish probable cause. They display “positive” or “negative” and should be administered after standardized field sobriety tests to confirm suspicion of drug use. This information can also be used to assist with obtaining a search warrant to collect a confirmation specimen such as blood (or oral fluid). It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agency to purchase, maintain, and seek adequate training for these devices.

Secondly, we now offer laboratory testing of oral fluid samples at ADFS. After an arrest, an evidentiary confirmation oral fluid specimen should be collected in an appropriate collection device/tube provided by ADFS. The Toxicology Section will test the oral fluid sample and issue a report of our findings. We test for ~30 drugs of abuse and therapeutic drugs commonly found in driving cases. It is considered best practice to collect both blood and oral fluid. In some circumstances, testing both specimens will provide a more complete picture of recent drug use. The first oral fluid case was submitted to the laboratory in August 2018. Newly distributed DUI biological specimens kits (BSKits) containing one Quantisal oral fluid device and two blood tubes have been distributed throughout the state. The kits no longer contain a urine container. As of July 2024, we have received over ~2500 oral fluid cases. Dr. Harper has testified in over 12 oral fluid cases.

To learn more about our program, please see our publication in JAT titled, “Implementation of the first comprehensive state oral fluid drug testing program for roadside screening and laboratory testing in DUID cases-A 5-year review” at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37526020/

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2024 Oral Fluid Committee: SOFT

• Chair: Curt Harper
• Vice-Chair: Mandi Mohr

Full members:

• Cindy Coulter
• Nathalie Desrosiers
• Amanda D'orazio
• Madeleine Swortwood
• Carrie Hodges
• Sarah Bartock
• Christine Moore
• Bridget Lemberg
• Suman Rana
• Gregory Sarris
• Karl Scheidweiler
• Kristin Tidwell
• Ruth Winecker

This group has created a number of resources and references relevant to oral fluid drug testing (located below under the "Links" section).

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Approved Roadside Oral Fluid Drug Screening Devices

The following devices are approved by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for field sobriety drug screening.

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Please click below for Oral Fluid Quantisal Evidentiary/Confirmation Collection Instructions.

Download Antemortem Specimen Kit Instructions (Form DFS-67O) [Blood + Oral Fluid]
Download Antemortem Toxicological Analysis Request (Form DFS-59O - DUI) [Blood + Oral Fluid]

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Links:

• SOFT: Oral Fluid Literature and FAQs
• SOFT: Oral Fluid References
• Society of Forensic Toxicology: Drug and Driving Literature
• Evidentiary confirmation tubes
• **ADFS Rules for Chemical Testing
• Use of Oral Fluid to Detect Drugged Drivers. Sponsored by AAA.
• Detailed Guidance Report
• Quick Reference Handout
• Law Enforcement Pocket Card

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Contacts:

For more information about the program, contact Dr. Curt Harper (Toxicologist) and William Lindsey (Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor)

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**IMPORTANT: Read Section 370-1-1-.06 Field Sobriety Drug Screening Devices for details on approved training, operation of devices, quality control tests and maintenance, and training/maintenance record requirements.

**Note: It is the responsibility of each law enforcement agency to maintain permanent records documenting the training of each officer in the use of approved field sobriety screening devices and the annual maintenance results on each device in use by the law enforcement agency.