The information on this page relates to samples taken under the following legislation:

Forensic Science SA (FSSA) is an accredited testing body for the analysis of alcohol and drugs under these laws.

Contact your local South Australia Police station for information related to enforcements and penalties.

What is a blood or saliva sample tested for?

A blood sample is screened for either alcohol, or both alcohol and illicit drugs, depending on the accident or offence and the legal requirements.

The oral fluid (saliva) sample is screened for the presence of illicit drugs. The illicit drugs that are currently prescribed for the purposes of the above Acts include:

  • delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  • methylamphetamine
  • 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

Can my prescription medication give a false positive for any of these drugs?

The scientific method used by FSSA to identify drugs is highly specific, and prescription drugs will not be falsely identified as positive for any of the three drugs outlined above.

What happens next?

Metropolitan blood samples are collected weekly by South Australia Police and delivered to Forensic Science SA.

Regional locations may experience extended time frames with their collections.

If you need to know whether your blood sample has been submitted to Forensic Science SA, contact the relevant hospital, surgery or medical institution or your local police station.

Forensic Science SA will then generate a Certificate of Analysis detailing the results of testing.

Understanding your results

You will be sent your Certificate of Analysis approximately 4 weeks after we receive your sample at FSSA.

The Certificate of Analysis will be posted to the address listed on the blood test form provided to you when your sample was collected.

Can I receive my results by email?

No. Results are not provided by email due to privacy concerns.

If you don't receive your Certificate of Analysis after 5 weeks of the date of your sample being taken, contact FSSA. You will need to provide:

  • your sample identification number
  • full name
  • address
  • hospital attended
  • date of the accident (if applicable).

FSSA will report a drug as being present in the oral fluid or blood sample if it's above a certain concentration, known as the cut-off concentration. The cut-off concentration for these illicit drugs is indicated on the Certificate of Analysis. For blood samples the measured concentration of drug in the blood will be reported on the Certificate of Analysis, but for oral fluid samples the drug will merely be reported as ‘detected’.

Finding your sample identification number

The sample identification number is located on the top right-hand side of the first page of the blood test form provided to you when your sample was collected.

If you need your Certificate of Analysis to be resissued, download and complete the Request for Reissue of Certificate of Analysis form (PDF, 152.9 KB).

A fee is payable.

Submit the completed form to FSSA by email: FSSA@sa.gov.au

Incorrect personal details (like your name or postal address) listed on the blood test form can be amended by downloading the Request for Change of Personal Details form (PDF, 142.9 KB).

The address provided on the blood test form will be used unless we receive notification of a change via the form.

Submit the completed form to FSSA by email: FSSA@sa.gov.au

If within 8 hours of the time of the accident you attended or were admitted to a hospital, surgery or medical institution for treatment of an inury sustained in the accident and a blood sample was taken from you then a Certificate of Analysis will be posted directly to you.

If over 8 hours since the time of the accident, you attended or were admitted to a hospital, surgery or medical institution for treatment of an injury sustained in the accident, a blood sample is not required from you.

Your insurance company can request a copy of your Certificate of Analysis information from FSSA on your behalf with your written and signed authority. A fee is payable.

What if I want my sample re-analysed?

Forensic Science SA will perform testing on the first sample of your blood or oral fluid on behalf of South Australia Police.

We store a second sealed sample of blood or saliva on your behalf for 12 months (from the date the sample is received at Forensic Science SA) before it is destroyed.

You can request to submit this sample for independent analysis at FSSA during period, or collect it to have it tested at another laboratory.

If you want FSSA to independently analyse the second sealed sample of blood or saliva, contact FSSA by email: FSSA@sa.gov.au

We will then send you a Request for Analysis form. A fee will apply for this independent analysis.

You can arrange to have your blood or saliva sample collected by downloading the Request for Collection of Sample form (PDF, 161.4 KB)

Submit the completed form to FSSA by email: FSSA@sa.gov.au

See the list of other accredited testing laboratories (PDF, 164.3 KB)

Voluntary tests

If you chose to have a voluntary alcohol test after your breath analysis, two identical blood samples should have been collected from you.

  • Sample 1 (SAPOL sample) - A sealed blood sample will be sent to us for analysis on behalf of South Australia Police, and results of this analysis will be mailed to you at the address provided on the blood test - voluntary alcohol form.
  • Sample 2 (Patient sample) - A sealed blood sample (marked with the sample identification number) will be provided to you. This is required under the law. Make sure it is refrigerated as soon as you can and the seal remains in tact. This will maintain the integrity of your sample.

If you want to have the patient blood sample independently analysed once you have received your results, it will be at your own expense.

You can also choose to have your sample analysed at another laboratory (PDF, 164.3 KB).

Contact Forensic Science SA

In person: 21 Divett Place, Adelaide SA 5000, Kaurna Country
9am - 5pm (out-of-hours deliveries must be pre-booked)

Mail: GPO Box 2790, Adelaide SA 5001
Phone: 08 8226 7700
Email: FSSA@sa.gov.au

Contact South Australia Police (SAPOL)

Phone: 131 444
Email: SAPOLEnquiries@police.sa.gov.au

Website: www.police.sa.gov.au