Will CBD Show Up In A Mouth Swab Test?
Over the last couple of years, CBD has gained widespread popularity. Previously, we have explained that CBD will not show up in a regular urine drug test. In this article, we will discuss whether or not it may show up in a mouth swab test.
- CBD pharmacokinetics
- How long does CBD stay in your saliva?
- Will CBD show up in a saliva test?
- Do CBD saliva tests exist?
- How to ensure that you do not fail a drug test
CBD pharmacokinetics
When taken orally, the bioavailability of CBD reaches 15%, but if you inhale it, the bioavailability increases to 30%. To put it simply, only 15% to 30% of this substance manages to reach your system after you consume it.
Like many other cannabinoids, CBD is primarily metabolized by our liver. After metabolization, most of the metabolites are excreted in feces, while a much smaller amount is excreted in the urine. It has been estimated that the terminal half-life of CBD in regular users is around 18 to 32 hours after a single use.
How long does CBD stay in your saliva?
According to a study of National Institute on Drug Abuse, in rare cases, CBD can be detected in our saliva up to 22 hours after intake. This fact significantly correlates with the detection time of THC in oral fluids. The same study, however, has also revealed that the concentration of CBD decreases 10-fold between 30 minutes and 1 hour after intake, and for certain users, it ended up being undetectable in just 2 hours. On average, in most of the samples, CBD was detectable only during the first 6 hours.
It is important to understand that like THC the detection time of CBD varies significantly from one person to another. This usually depends on a variety of factors. For instance, the administration route is extremely essential for assessing how long CBD is retained in your saliva. To assess an accurate timeline, you’ll have to consider the following factors:
- Dosage—the amount of CBD you take has a significant effect on detection time.
- Metabolic rate—fast metabolism decreases detection time.
- Weight—those with more body mass are likely to have a slow metabolic rate, which means detection time of CBD can be longer.
- Age—older individuals usually have slower metabolism and therefore a longer detection time compared with younger CBD users.
- Level of hydration—drinking a lot of water helps you flush traces of CBD from your system much faster.
- Tolerance—a high tolerance to cannabinoids leads to a shorter CBD detection time.
Will CBD show up in a saliva test?
No. As CBD isn’t a psychoactive substance, it won’t be tested in any drug tests that are aimed to detect your marijuana usage. Since THC turns out to be the only cannabinoid that’s checked for, CBD alone cannot be detected in a regular mouth swab drug test. This means that you can use pure CBD without fearing that you will fail a drug test.
Do note, however, that the cannabis strains used to extract CBD usually have low THC content. While smoking these plants won’t make you fail a drug test, there can be a slight risk when you use concentrated CBD oil. Since concentrated oil also makes THC concentrated, using a large amount of it can theoretically trigger a positive THC test result.
To avoid such situations, always purchase your CBD oil from known manufacturers that specify the level of THC content in the product. The lower the percentage, the less chance of it being detected.
Do CBD saliva tests exist?
Yes. There are methods for CBD-specific drug detection. For example, they may be conducted as part of scientific research, such as mentioned above. These tests, however, are very rare and almost useless for employers because CBD doesn’t have psychoactive properties and is widely used for medical reasons. Since checking for additional substances only increases the expense of drug testing, most companies prefer not spending extra money on them.
The only reason your employer might check for CBD is if his insurance provider considers it a problem in insurance claims. Although this is very unlikely, you should check your company’s drug testing policies to be sure.
How to ensure that you do not fail a drug test
As CBD might still have some minor traces of THC, it might cause you to fail a mouth swab test. To avoid such a result, you should try using a detox mouthwash.
As per many experts, this is the most reliable way to pass a saliva drug test because mouthwash is an effective detoxifying agent. Since drug tests can be randomly conducted at your workplace, it is recommended that you carry a small bottle of detox mouthwash with you.
Ultra Wash and Stinger are two of the most reliable products to prevent positive saliva drug test results. These solutions are particularly made to wipe out all traces of unwanted toxins from your oral fluids within minutes. These mouthwashes are widely available, simple to use, and don’t have any side effects.
Saliva drug tests are usually conducted to track recent use of marijuana. As oral fluids are self-cleaning in nature, detection is only possible if you’ve taken the substance in the last couple of days or even several hours before the test. For the same reason, mouthwashes are effective only within hours after use, so you have to manage your time carefully and follow instructions exactly to achieve the desired effect. When mixed with oral fluids, the fast-acting ingredients of a detox mouthwash quickly cleanse your mouth of all unwanted toxins, but they can’t make your salivary glands stop working or produce clean saliva. Over time, your mouthwash will be swallowed and dissolved, and your oral cavity will be filled with contaminated saliva again.
Detox mouthwash has been proven to be most effective for about 20 to 30 minutes after using it. After this time, it is less effective. Last but not least, it cannot be detected by adulteration tests, so you will not be suspected of cheating.
Conclusion
While mouth swab tests for cannabinoids aren’t as common as urine tests, it always pays to be cautious. So keep the Ultra Wash or Stinger mouthwash in your pocket and use it 20 minutes before your test to cleanse and completely detoxify your mouth.