Revolutionary Fingerprint Drug Test Available to Support Drug Rehabilitation Services

•Non-invasive approach makes drug testing quick, easy and dignified for drug recovery providers and service users.

UK-based Intelligent Fingerprinting has announced the availability of its new fingerprint-based drug screening system to drug rehabilitation service providers. The company’s revolutionary technology detects drug use by analysing fingerprint sweat, screening for multiple drugs of abuse in under 10 minutes. Its dignified, non-invasive approach makes it an ideal choice to support drug recovery programmes that currently rely on oral-fluid or urine-based drug tests to track clients’ progress.

The new fingerprint-based drug test is portable, offering a convenient drug screening approach for use by drug rehabilitation services in both clinics and community-based centres. The system makes it simple to set up screening sessions, collect samples, administer tests and get results quickly on location. Fingerprint drug testing is also particularly easy to use and non-invasive, sidestepping potential hygiene concerns associated with traditional screening methods that involve the collection and disposal of body fluid samples such as saliva or urine.

“Drug rehabilitation providers need to maintain an open relationship with clients that’s based on trust, so it’s critical that drug testing is quick, easy and – most importantly – dignified,” commented Dr Jerry Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Intelligent Fingerprinting. “Our new fingerprint drug test can help drug rehabilitation programmes to deliver drug screening directly in communities in a positive way, while also helping measure each client’s progress towards recovery.”

The Intelligent Fingerprinting Drug Screening System consists of a sample collection cartridge and the portable Reader 1000, and works by analysing the tiny traces of sweat contained in a fingerprint to detect signs of drug use.  Collecting a fingerprint sweat sample onto an Intelligent Fingerprinting cartridge takes just five seconds, and the Reader 1000 provides a positive or negative result for each drug in the test within just 10 minutes.

Rehabilitation programmes rely on regular drug screening to measure treatment progress and identify the need for intervention if a relapse occurs. Current drug screening methods are time-consuming, undignified and involve bio-hazardous samples such as urine and saliva which may require specially prepared sample collection areas, gender-specific staff for observed collection of urine samples, bulky storage and clinical waste disposal services.

Change, grow, live (CGL), a national social care and health charity, has been active in trialling the new fingerprint drug test. Dr Prun Bijral, Medical Director at CGL said: “Having visibility of a client’s progress – and whether they have used drugs recently – is critical in determining how we tailor our drug rehabilitation programmes to support each individual. During our early tests we’ve had positive feedback from both our counsellors and service users. The process of collecting fingerprint samples has been very easy and dignified – especially in comparison with urine samples or using oral swabs. In my view this is the most important benefit; the approach is respectful of our clients, and will help reduce some of the concerns people may have about entering treatment.”

Christopher Strivens is Deputy Service Manager at Norfolk Recovery Partnership, which provides advice and treatment for adults with drug and alcohol problems across Norfolk and is run by a partnership of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, The Matthew Project and The Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust. He said: “With Intelligent Fingerprinting, there’s now a drug screening approach that is non-invasive and undertaken with ease. The Intelligent Fingerprinting drug screening system’s portability and non-invasive nature means that our screening sessions don’t need to be carried out in a clinical setting, while there is no clinical waste or risk to staff from the collected sample. That makes it much easier to set up sessions, collect samples, administer tests and get results in under 10 minutes.  Our service users have found the devices very acceptable and easy to use, and this helps to establish positive relationships with them.”

To learn more about how non-invasive drug screening works, and how it has the potential to revolutionise drug screening in drug rehabilitation organisations, view the Intelligent Fingerprinting introductory video.