NCJ Number
171038
Journal
Journal of Offender Monitoring Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1998) Pages: 21-23
Date Published
1998
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The increased use of drug testing has been accompanied by a proliferation in testing technology and data management.
Abstract
Drug-testing technology has been driven by the need for quick and reliable results. At the center of this development is the immunoassay, which has consistently improved since the mid- 1970s. Immunoassay technology uses antibodies to detect drugs or drug metabolites in urine. In the last few years, the evolution of new drug-testing devices enables criminal justice personnel to test individuals at the point of contact. These devices are more reliable than past spot-test methods, primarily because their technology is based on immunoassay technology. Recently, the focus on using alternative body materials (sweat, saliva) or products (hair) for drug testing has appeared increasingly in research. This has occurred because of the need to overcome some of the disadvantages of urine drug-testing, cut testing costs, and increase the window of detection. Currently, hair-testing is most often used in companies with pre-employment screening for drug use. This method is favored because the sample provides a more comprehensive profile of drug use. Data management systems, especially those that use bar-code technology, have significantly improved sample processing, data storage, and record dissemination. A table presented in this article profiles the specifications of various point-of-contact drug-testing devices, along with the companies that manufacture them. 8 references