DrugWipe® is conquering new fields of application
A commercial aircraft overshoots the runway, jet skiers are speeding dangerously, sweat samples need to get to the lab quickly and safely and a vending machine dispenses drug tests for self-screening in the workplace. However diverse these scenarios may be, they all have one thing in common – in each case, DrugWipe was successfully used as a reliable tool.
The DrugWipe range of tests has been established worldwide as a reliable saliva test for roadside screening. However, the strength of this test’s performance also makes it a popular tool in other diverse areas. Supervisory authorities in the field of aviation rely on DrugWipe, as do emergency response doctors. There are also successful applications that may appear completely unlikely at first glance. For example, DrugWipe has been used to diagnose cases of poisoning and as a transport medium for sweat.
Pilots on drugs?
In August 2018, an incident with a Boeing 737 caused commotion at Pardubice airport in the Czech Republic. On landing at the airport, the plane overran the end of the runway by several metres, before coming to a stop in the grass. The first step in investigating this incident was to test the pilots using DrugWipe 5 S. Thankfully, the result was negative1.
Police target watersports enthusiasts
In December and January, it’s peak season at Lake Bonney in South Australia. And, every year, #OperationRiversafe swings into action, with the South Australian Police testing watersports enthusiasts at the lake for all types of drugs and alcohol. Over 200 boat skiers and jet skiers were screened at the end of January. The South Australia Police use DrugWipe for reliable drug screening. The two young jet skiers pictured above passed the test with flying colours. However, the same could not be said for other boaters and jet skiers who were screened.
Faster in-ambulance diagnosis
It can be difficult to diagnose poisoning with illegal substances and drugs in a pre-clinical environment. In Finland, researchers are investigating whether saliva tests are a suitable means of improving patient diagnoses during ambulance call-outs. 57 patients in total were tested with DrugWipe over the course of the study. The positive outcome of the study confirmed that saliva drug tests provide a valuable additional instrument for diagnosing patients who have lost consciousness for an unknown reason2.
Emergency room support
Australian researchers report that DrugWipe is a reliable tool for use in hospital emergency rooms. If patients exhibit acute behavioural disturbances, the test can determine, in a matter of minutes, whether substance abuse is involved. This enables much faster and better directed decision-making on how to proceed3.
A drug-test dispenser
An Australian mining corporation has introduced a completely new concept intended to sensitise their employees to the company’s zero-tolerance policy concerning alcohol and drugs in the workplace. The company has installed a vending machine, from which DrugWipe tests can be discreetly dispensed to employees. In the same location, employees can also take an optional alcohol test. This means that, after a night of heavy partying, employees can determine their fitness for work themselves and avoid testing positive in a test conducted by their employer.
DrugWipe drug-test dispenser by Pathtech; image source: Pathtech
DrugWipe as a sample collector
A simplified method for detecting drug consumption among drivers was investigated in Italy. It involves a preliminary test conducted during roadside screening, with DrugWipe 5 A used to take sweat samples. If the result is positive, a further test must be conducted in a lab for confirmation. In this case, another DrugWipe test is used to collect a second sweat sample for lab analysis. This approach proved very successful. The results of the preliminary tests were found to be extremely consistent with those from the laboratory tests. Another positive outcome reported from this study is that transporting the sweat samples at room temperature proved to be simple and reliable thanks to DrugWipe4.
New psychoactive substances – NPS
A Franco-Belgian research group became interested in DrugWipe tests used by the police. These were tested in the lab to detect the presence of new psychoactive substances. The data collected allows valuable conclusions to be drawn with regard to the prevalence of these groups of substances, which are difficult to control5.
Would you like to know more about the DrugWipe rapid saliva screening test? We would be happy to provide you with detailed information.
Sources:
1 Final Report: Investigation of causes of a serious incident of Boeing B737-800 air craft, identification mark N624XA at LKPD on 1 August 2018. Air Accidents Investigation Institute Prague, 2019.
2 M. Söderqvist et al., Substance abuse among emergency medical service patients.Point of Care, 2018. 17: p. 47-49.
3 M. Gerdtz et al., Prevalence of illicit substance use among patients presenting to the emergency department with acute behavioural disturbance: Rapid point-of-care saliva screening. Emerg Med Australas, 2020.
4 S. Gentili et al., Determination of different recreational drugs in sweat by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME GC/MS): Application to drugged drivers. J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2016. 129: p. 282-287.
5 C. Richeval et al., New psychoactive substances in oral fluid of French and Belgian drivers in 2016. Int J Drug Policy, 2018. 57: p. 1-3.
Image Source:
Securetec AG, Johanna Lohr, Pathtech, LLC; South Australian Police
