Advancing Drug Testing: Unraveling the Potential of Oral Fluids with Enzymes

In the ever-evolving landscape of workplace drug testing, a paradigm shift is underway, with a surge of interest in alternative methods to traditional urine tests. Among the emerging technologies, oral fluid testing has emerged as a promising contender, fortified by its unique advantages and the crucial role of enzymes in the detection process.

Oral fluid testing (OF), also known as saliva testing, has garnered traction as a viable alternative to urine testing due to its unparalleled benefits. In 2019, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) endorsed lab-based oral fluid testing as an alternative to urine tests for federal agencies. This endorsement marked a significant milestone in drug testing practices. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Transportation expressed its intention to permit the use of lab-based oral fluid testing for mandated drug tests, bolstering its credibility and acceptance.

The popularity of OF testing can be attributed to several advantages. It offers a shorter window of detection, making it ideal for identifying recent drug use within 24 hours. Unlike urine testing, which often detects drug metabolites, OF testing can detect the parent drug, providing more immediate results. Rapid detection within minutes of ingestion further enhances its suitability for recent drug use identification. Studies have also indicated higher positivity rates, particularly for marijuana, making it a valuable tool for accurate detection.

Central to the success of OF testing is the utilization of enzymes to ensure precise drug detection. Two commonly employed enzymatic techniques are:

• Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA): In the initial screening phase, ELISA is cost-effective and swift, providing valuable preliminary results of drug presence in oral fluid samples.
• Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS): For confirming the presence of specific drugs identified during the ELISA screening, LC/MS/MS is utilized. This highly sensitive technique ensures accurate and reliable drug identification.

Additionally, incorporating β-glucuronidase in OF testing offers the benefit of improving the monitoring of THCCOOH at clinically relevant concentrations, enabling the identification of active cannabis consumption. This method allows for the quantification of six cannabinoids and their metabolites in OF, including minor cannabinoids such as THCV and CBG, which can enhance the interpretation of cannabinoid results. The inclusion of β-glucuronidase facilitates the hydrolysis of THCCOOH-glucuronide, resulting in increased THCCOOH detection, making it possible to distinguish passive environmental cannabis smoke exposure from recent cannabis use. Furthermore, this technique does not require complicated derivatization and allows for rapid analysis with high throughput, making it suitable for various testing programs, including workplace, forensic, and drug treatment applications.

The future of drug testing appears to be steering towards OF testing, buoyed by its increasing acceptance by employers and federal endorsements. As marijuana legalization spreads, the demand for detecting recent drug use rises, and oral fluid testing aligns perfectly with this need.

In conclusion, oral fluid testing, fortified by the use of enzymes, is rapidly gaining recognition as an efficient and reliable alternative to lab-based urine testing. Employers increasingly embrace this technology due to its numerous advantages and federal endorsements. KURA Biotech's stable and active β-glucuronide B-one enzyme holds promise in driving breakthroughs that enhance the efficiency and accuracy of drug testing, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes. As the drug testing landscape continues to evolve, oral fluid testing is poised to play a pivotal role in fostering safe, healthy, and drug-free workplaces.