URINE MOST COMMONLY CHECKED

Urine is the most common specimen collected for drug
testing.

Brent Dawson is optimistic saliva will soon also gain
favour.

Dawson's Red Deer company, Integrated OH&S, has been supplying clients
with oral testing devices for about six months.

It can detect marijuana, cocaine, opiates and synthetic opiates, and
methamphetamines.

Many businesses rely on drug-testing companies to collect and process
urine samples.

Jan Chandler, who operates Chandler Consulting Inc. of Red Deer, said
such off-site testing helps ensure confidentiality, proper collection
and processing, and is potentially less damaging to employers'
relationships with their workers.

"Basically we manage the entire program for companies, off-site from
our offices here," she said.

Dawson said a disadvantage of sending workers to a lab for testing is
it removes them from the jobsite and could even force a shutdown.

Saliva samples taken at the scene can be tested within minutes,
allowing work to resume quickly if the results are negative.

A positive test necessitates the taking of a second sample, which is
sent away for lab testing.

Richard Robillard, who works with Dawson, said saliva samples are
easier than urine to collect and to safeguard against
contamination.

They will show if drugs were used recently, whereas urine may only
reveal drugs ingested hours earlier.

Dawson said his company's saliva testing devices have proven popular
with clients like seismic companies that work in remote areas.

He added that they are being used widely in the United States.