Testing for illicit drug use has been readily available since the 1960s. Initially, those suspected of drug use would be required to submit a blood, hair, urine, or saliva sample for analysis. Of these drug screening methods, only urine and saliva remain suitable for routine workplace drug screening due to their speed and convenience.
Today’s Drug Testing Options
Although these methods remain effective and widely used today, they have several drawbacks and limitations. Both urine and saliva testing can be invasive and unpleasant for donors and sample collectors. They also rely on the donor’s ability to produce a usable sample, often requiring trained personnel and specialised collection facilities.
Additionally, these methods produce biohazardous waste and have longer detection windows that may not effectively indicate recent or current impairment, which is particularly important in safety-critical environments.
Before the introduction of the Intelligent Fingerprinting Drug Testing Solution in 2007, sweat as a matrix for drug testing was only available in the form of patches. These sweat patches are still available today, with the donor required to wear the patch for several days for a valid sample to be collected.
Introducing Fingerprint Sweat-based Drug Testing
The Intelligent Fingerprinting Drug Testing Solution provides an efficient, cost-effective, non-invasive alternative to traditional testing methods. Using lateral flow assay technology and fluorescence-labelled antibodies, the Solution provides rapid results and comparable levels of accuracy to urine and saliva testing, instead with a dignified and non-invasive collection method and non-biohazardous waste.
Fingerprint sweat-based testing also does not require specialised facilities or training. The method is near-impossible to cheat and is significantly more cost-effective than traditional testing methods following an initial investment. Companies like P&O Ferries expect to reduce their drug testing costs by 90%.
Today, Intelligent Fingerprinting has over 400 customers worldwide from various industries, including construction, manufacturing, transport, and logistics.
The Future of Fingerprint Drug Testing
With over 1000 Intelligent Fingerprinting Drug Screening Readers installed across customer sites, our primary mission is to deliver accurate, dignified, and efficient drug testing solutions to all businesses interested in establishing an effective drug deterrent.
