Firm markets one-touch drug detector

[kiwi_farmer]

Submitted by SHNS on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 11:57.

By HELEN ANNE TRAVIS, St. Petersburg Times

 

SPRING HILL, Fla. -- John Consoli wants to get rid of drugs in the workplace, one telephone handset at a time.

 

Consoli, 67, is the president of On Site, a Spring Hill, Fla. company marketing DrugWipe, a handheld narcotic detector.

 

Just swipe the DrugWipe against a keyboard or any other surface, Consoli said, and the toothbrush-size detector can tell whether anyone who has touched the surface in the past 72 hours had drugs in his or her system.

 

"It is 100 percent accurate," Consoli said. "It is the only product that I know of that is defensible in court."

 

The technology comes from Europe, where law enforcement tested suspected "drugged drivers." DrugWipe also has been used in the United States by the FBI, DEA and Customs Service, Consoli said.

 

Now, he wants to bring it to the private sector. DrugWipe could be used by businesses that suspect their employees are using or trafficking drugs.

 

The device tests for cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine and opiates. Because the drugs travel from the user's glands and are deposited on the surface, there's almost no way to fool the test.

 

"It's in your system. If you've done drugs, it's in your glands," Consoli said. "How do you adulterate your sweat?" Pinning down a corporation that used DrugWipe was difficult. Since Consoli is just starting out, he hasn't actually had any clients. The corporations that he said have used it in the past didn't want to talk to the press because of privacy issues, he said.

 

A DrugWipe kit costs about $50 and can be used to check 10 to 15 surfaces. Testers must be trained and certified. Training takes a half-day and costs $500.

 

Companies can also hire an On Site professional to test workplace surfaces; prices vary.

 

If more than one person has touched the soiled keyboard or headset, the company can put the suspected users through a saliva or blood test.

 

"What DrugWipe is there to do in terms of corporations and businesses is to identify if a problem exists," Consoli said. "Then we can go the next step."

 

 

E-mail Helen Anne Travis at htravis(at)sptimes.com.

 

 

 

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)

© 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co

[Kali Mist]

*Handling bosses phone, pens, glasses, chairs, tables, etc, etc*

 

Now let's test the boss, who has now touched his phone, pens, glasses, chairs, tables, etc, etc...

 

(how to get rid of a drug hating boss with that pathetic new 'toy'...)

[kiloppo]

time to pull out my gloves.

[brick]

Submitted by SHNS on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 11:57.

By HELEN ANNE TRAVIS, St. Petersburg Times

 

SPRING HILL, Fla. -- John Consoli wants to get rid of drugs in the workplace, one telephone handset at a time.

 

Consoli, 67, is the president of On Site, a Spring Hill, Fla. company marketing DrugWipe, a handheld narcotic detector.

 

Just swipe the DrugWipe against a keyboard or any other surface, Consoli said, and the toothbrush-size detector can tell whether anyone who has touched the surface in the past 72 hours had drugs in his or her system.

 

"It is 100 percent accurate," Consoli said. "It is the only product that I know of that is defensible in court."

 

The technology comes from Europe, where law enforcement tested suspected "drugged drivers." DrugWipe also has been used in the United States by the FBI, DEA and Customs Service, Consoli said.

 

Now, he wants to bring it to the private sector. DrugWipe could be used by businesses that suspect their employees are using or trafficking drugs.

 

The device tests for cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine and opiates. Because the drugs travel from the user's glands and are deposited on the surface, there's almost no way to fool the test.

 

"It's in your system. If you've done drugs, it's in your glands," Consoli said. "How do you adulterate your sweat?" Pinning down a corporation that used DrugWipe was difficult. Since Consoli is just starting out, he hasn't actually had any clients. The corporations that he said have used it in the past didn't want to talk to the press because of privacy issues, he said.

 

A DrugWipe kit costs about $50 and can be used to check 10 to 15 surfaces. Testers must be trained and certified. Training takes a half-day and costs $500.

 

Companies can also hire an On Site professional to test workplace surfaces; prices vary.

 

If more than one person has touched the soiled keyboard or headset, the company can put the suspected users through a saliva or blood test.

 

"What DrugWipe is there to do in terms of corporations and businesses is to identify if a problem exists," Consoli said. "Then we can go the next step."

 

 

E-mail Helen Anne Travis at htravis(at)sptimes.com.

 

 

 

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)

© 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co

 

I can understand why co's would want to use the tester. If operation of dangerous machinery is involved then I think it is acceptable, you can't come to work if your judgement is impaired by drugs or alcohol, if it puts you or fellow workers at risk of injury or death. The problem that I imo can see is if you only use drugs or alcohol when you are not working and the tester picks it up when you go to work. That imo is a direct invasion of your private life and that I am totally against.

ps Is the boss exempt from such tests? Especially after a business luncheon.