Originally published by Näringsliv Varberg.
Just over 20 years ago, Hans Spjotgard was nearly killed by a drunk driver. Today, he is the CEO of Clean Test Sweden, a company specialising in drug testing for carriers and logistics companies.
“I suffered multiple open fractures and was completely shattered. Doctors initially thought I had a head injury. They stitched up 50 wounds, and my arm hung limp—I couldn’t lift it. My vision was gone for weeks from a severe concussion. I was badly battered, but my condition was stable—otherwise, I wouldn’t have survived,” says Hans Spjotgard.
The accident he is talking about happened in 2004. At that time, Hans Spjotgard and his family, with five children, had just returned to Sweden after a time in Norway.
“We were unpacking when I decided to step out and get some pizza. After a while, my family began to wonder where I was—I’d been hit by a drunk driver, a man notorious for driving under the influence and using drugs. The impact threw me 15 meters. Usually, the kids came along for pizza, but that day I said no—thankfully. They were so little; they wouldn’t have stood a chance if they’d been with me when he sped by.”
The accident profoundly changed his perspective on drugs. Now, more than 20 years later, Hans Spjotgard is fully committed to building Clean Test—a company dedicated to providing drug testing solutions. As partner and CEO, he runs the business from his home in Veddige, Sweden.
Currently, the main target groups are haulage, logistics, and construction companies—industries where safety risks are high. Truck drivers, in particular, must never be under the influence of drugs, as their actions can endanger not only themselves but also others on the road and at the worksite.
The drug tests have already shown results. According to Hans Spjotgard, one client discovered an employee using drugs on the very first day of testing. Ensuring that drivers and workers are sober is critical, as any impairment can have serious consequences for everyone involved.
“They identified a scaffolder who was under the influence. I would never want to trust my safety to a builder impaired by drugs. Under the Spjotgard holding company, we have also launched Clean Test in Norway, with expansions underway in Denmark and Finland. Our flagship product is an innovative fingerprint-based drug test developed by Intelligent Fingerprinting in England,” says Hans Spjotgard.
The individual being tested simply presses their fingers onto a collection stick, and within ten minutes, the prints are analysed by a specialised device.
“The skin is the body’s largest organ. We sweat out various substances,” says Hans Spjotgard.
He clarifies that a positive result from touching a contaminated surface is unlikely to falsely implicate someone.
If a positive test occurs, the individual can wash their hands and wait 10–15 minutes before retesting. A second positive result strongly indicates drug use. For further verification, a follow-up test is sent to a laboratory, where the specific substance can be identified in detail.
Hans Spjotgard explains that fingerprint-based drug tests are less messy and intrusive than traditional urine tests. They are also more discreet—no one in the workplace needs to know the specific reason for the test, unlike situations where someone is escorted to the restroom for supervision. The fingerprint method allows rapid screening of many individuals with quick results.
Although now technically retired, Hans remains deeply invested in this mission, motivated not just by his own accident but also by personal experiences—both his daughter and a colleague’s daughter have had their drinks spiked, with one case resulting in assault. This work is truly a passion project for Hans and his team, who are dedicated to fighting drug abuse in all its forms.
Fingerprints are analysed by the device, providing employers with an answer within two minutes as to whether the individual has used drugs in the last 16–24 hours.
