Although employer and parent drug testing programs have proven to be a highly successful deterrent to drug use, the issue of invasiveness has caused apprehension, but the development of the saliva drug test should allay much of those concerns. The standard urinalysis drug test requires the submission of a urine sample, which means the tester must be present to witness the act. Some employers or parent have expressed their discomfort with what could be perceived as an invasion of privacy. The hair follicle drug test necessitates the submission of a hair sample, which typically must include 50-100 individual strands of hair. For drug prevention programs which require frequent testing, the amount of hair needed may eventually become unwieldy. The innovative design of the saliva drug test involves a simple sponge which the subject inserts into their mouth. The sponge, which is similar to a Q-tip, is held in the mouth for 1-2 minutes and removed to be tested. Saliva drug tests return accurate results in only 10 minutes, making them extremely time efficient, and they can be used to test for several illicit and prescription drugs.

Since their inception, saliva drug tests have been highly regarded by employees who appreciate the simple design and ease of use. Because saliva drug test kits are compact, they can be easily stored in the office or home, which eliminates the need for off-site testing laboratory services. The procedure administering a saliva drug test is very simple, requiring the sponge to be dipped into a testing chamber after being properly moistened. The results are returned in the form of a strip which changes color if trace amounts of a drug are present. There are also multiple substance saliva drug tests, which can detect traces of 5 or more different illicit and prescription drugs from a single saliva sample. Drugs which can be identified by a saliva drug test include marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine, opiates, ecstasy or MDMA, and phencyclidine (PCP). Typically, the standard saliva drug test can detect traces of illicit substances from 1 to 4 days, depending on the drug being tested for. This makes the saliva drug test a cost efficient, non invasive drug testing option which is perfect for use in the office, in schools, or at home within an overall drug prevention program.