Intelligent Fingerprinting plans to expand its lab confirmation testing service to include fentanyl and fentanyl-adulterated street drugs. This enhancement will allow organisations using the Intelligent Fingerprinting Drug Screening System to confirm the presence of fentanyl in fingerprint samples through accredited laboratory testing.
Why Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid estimated to be around 50 times more potent than heroin, with just 2mg considered a potentially fatal dose [4]. It has become the most common opioid linked to overdose deaths in the U.S., with the CDC reporting more than 100,000 overdose deaths in the 12 months to November 2022, of which over 80% involved at least one opioid [1] [2]. The U.S. Joint Economic Committee estimates the opioid crisis is costing the country nearly $1.5 trillion each year [3].
How the Update Works
The Intelligent Fingerprinting system collects sweat from all ten fingertips in under a minute using a hygienic, tamper-evident Cartridge. While the portable Reader provides on-the-spot screening results for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and methamphetamine, samples can also be sent for back-to-lab LC-MS/MS analysis. This highly sensitive process will now include fentanyl detection, offering an important extension to our testing capabilities.
Supporting Safer Workplaces
By adding fentanyl to our confirmation testing panel, Intelligent Fingerprinting is helping employers and organisations strengthen their drug screening policies with a quick, non-invasive, and dignified approach compared with traditional urine or saliva methods.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/fatal/dashboard/index.html
[3] https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/67bced7f-4232-40ea-9263-f033d280c567/jec-cost-of-opioids-issue-brief.pdf
[4] https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2021-09/DEA_Fact_Sheet-Counterfeit_Pills.pdf
