Drug testing in workplaces and legal settings is critical for ensuring safety, compliance, and reliability. In Australia, AS 4760 is the national standard for saliva drug testing, setting strict guidelines for specimen collection, detection, and testing methods.
For urine drug testing, check out our guide on Australian Standard AS 4308, and for alcohol breath testing, learn more about Australian Standard AS 3547.
This standard ensures accurate and legally defensible results, making it widely used across industries such as transport, mining, and healthcare.
This guide explains what AS 4760 covers, why it matters, and how it impacts employers, employees, and testing providers.
What is AS 4760?
Australian Standard AS 4760 establishes the protocols for saliva drug testing in workplace and legal settings. Unlike AS 4308, which governs urine drug testing, AS 4760 focuses on detecting recent drug use through oral fluid samples.
This method is particularly useful for identifying impairment risk in safety-sensitive roles.
Under AS 4760, all collection and testing procedures must adhere to strict protocols to ensure specimen integrity, accurate reporting, and legal compliance.
Drugs covered under AS 4760
AS 4760 mandates screening for the following drug classes and their corresponding cut-off levels:
|
Drug Class |
Initial Screening Cut-off (µg/L) |
Confirmatory Cut-off (µg/L) |
|
Amphetamine-type substances |
50 |
25 |
|
Methamphetamines |
50 |
25 |
|
Benzodiazepines |
10 |
5 |
|
Cannabis (THC) |
15 |
5 |
|
Cocaine metabolites |
50 |
10 |
|
Opiates |
50 |
25 |
|
Oxycodone |
40 |
20 |
IN DEPTH: Cut-off levels for saliva and urine drug test kits in Australia
Key Components of AS 4760
1. Specimen Collection Procedures
- Oral fluid samples must be collected using approved devices designed for saliva drug testing.
- Strict chain of custody procedures must be followed to maintain sample integrity.
- Employers and collection agencies must store and transport samples securely to prevent contamination or tampering.
2. Testing Requirements
- Initial screening: Conducted using immunoassay techniques to detect drug presence above defined cut-off levels.
- Confirmatory testing: Performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to validate positive results.
- Standardised cut-off levels: AS 4760 specifies the minimum detection thresholds for each drug class.
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Why AS 4760 Matters for Employers
Employers conducting workplace drug testing must comply with AS 4760 to ensure legal defensibility and workplace safety. Using non-compliant methods could result in disputes, unreliable results, or legal challenges.
Best practices for employers include:
- Ensuring workplace drug testing policies align with AS 4760.
- Using certified oral fluid drug test kits that meet Australian standards.
- Partnering with accredited testing providers for accurate and defensible results.
- Training personnel on specimen collection and chain of custody procedures.
AS 4760 establishes the gold standard for saliva drug testing in Australia, ensuring fair, accurate, and defensible testing procedures. Compliance with this standard is essential for workplaces, testing providers, and regulatory bodies looking to maintain safety and integrity in their testing programs.
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