Concateno previews new portable drug testing device at TISPOL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 25, 2010 -- Concateno, Europe’s most experienced drug and alcohol testing company, previewed its next generation handheld drugs of abuse detection device at the TISPOL Conference 2010. The new roadside drug driving device was exclusively previewed to European road safety organisations and police officers at the event taking place at the Radisson Hotel, Manchester Airport on September 28-29, in advance of the Global Preview at the MEDICA world trade fair in November in Düsseldorf.

Available to end customers in 2011, upon completion of performance evaluation studies and regulatory clearances, the portable unit will supersede Concateno’s existing Cozart® DDS® device and test up to six different drug groups from a single oral fluid (saliva) sample. The device incorporates a number of additional features and benefits, including a new ergonomic design with full colour display screen, faster collection times, and improved sensitivity for THC, allowing lower levels to be detected. Drugs of abuse will be identifiable at the roadside within 90 seconds for some tests, and within a few minutes for broader, more sensitive tests that capture a wider range of substance misuse. The system also comes with improved software capabilities, allowing users to easily download test results and compile management reports.

Concateno’s testing technology for drug driving follows a similar process to an alcohol breathalyser test, except that an oral fluid sample is collected from the donor rather than a breath sample. It is already employed in many countries – including Australia, Spain, Croatia and Italy – and has helped to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on the roads.

Concateno’s drug driving expert, Iain Forcer, said: “Our roadside testing work with Australian police forces, among others internationally, proves that a clearly defined offence based on the presence of a drug in the system is successful in reducing levels of drug misuse and improving public safety.”

Since roadside drug testing was introduced in the Australian State of Victoria in 2004, roadside drug testing has been implemented across Australia. In Victoria, incidences of drivers detected with illicit drugs present has halved over a five-year period, from one driver in 44 to one driver in 94, and a reduction in the involvement of illicit drug in road trauma has occurred. Australia’s head of roadside testing for the State of Victoria Police, Inspector Martin Boorman, said: “In Australia, the use of roadside drug testing technology has proved extremely successful and has certainly helped to make our roads safer.

UK Police delegates at the conference hoped the government would let operational requirements lead the push for introducing a type approval specification for roadside drug testing devices, explaining that what they need is a simple and quick guideline test not a definitive analysis that if positive would enable them to bring the driver back to a police station for further investigation.

“Roadside drug testing, much like the roadside alcohol screening test, acts as a deterrent, but also provides the police with a quick and effective means to help catch those people who drive while using illegal substances. This technology, used in conjunction with a widespread educational campaign, has and continues to be extremely successful.” Forcer said.

In Italy, Concateno’s current testing device is being deployed at the roadside by a number of regional/local police forces across the country. Concateno has most recently been working on a study in collaboration with Rome City Police. An all inclusive package of testing services was provided, using the point of care device at the roadside followed up by the confirmation of any positive results back at the Concateno centre of excellence in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The units are already proving successful and have lead to a number of roadside arrests.

In the UK, drug driving laws and current testing practice have been under continued scrutiny. The North Review was commissioned by the Department for Transport as the first major evaluation of drink and drug driving law in 34 years. The report made 16 recommendations (out of a total of 44) specifically relating to drug driving – a recognised, but still poorly understood danger on UK roads.

Forcer said: “Concateno supports the North Review’s call for the earliest possible introduction of drug screening devices to identify those driving under the influence of illegal substances. However to enable this to happen, the Government needs to set down what devices should be capable of testing and how. Commercial suppliers such as Concateno will need to seek official confirmation that their testing devices fulfil this specification. Only then will police forces here in the UK be able to adopt such technology to help improve safety on the roads.

For more information please visit http://www.concateno.com/

drug and alcohol testing     drug testing