legal applications for drug and alcohol testing kelly r. broome arcpoint labs...
TRANSCRIPT
Agenda
Introduction Saliva Urine Hair Nail Alcohol Testing Cut-off Levels Confirmation Testing for Samples in Evidence Emerging Capabilities Conclusions Questions
Saliva Testing
Shortest Duration of Drug Detection– 2-7 Days of previous use– 15 minute initial exposure window
Limited Drug Panels Available– 5-12 Panel Drug Test
Instant with/without lab confirmation or lab based Legal specific version
– Includes Chain of Custody documentation– Instant result with Lab confirmation
Urine Testing
Medium Duration Detection Window– 5-7 days to 6 weeks – Drug specific variation– 2-4 hour initial exposure window
Widest Range of Drug Panels Available– 100s of Drug Tests available – Specialty tests
Instant with lab confirmation or lab based Can be adulterated or diluted
– Methods to identify cheating efforts– Observed testing to defeat cheating
Hair Testing
Longer Duration for Detection– Designed for 90 Days of previous use – Head hair– Longer detection for body hair – underarm, arm, leg, chest– Head Hair can be segmented – 30/60/90 day periods– 10-14 day initial exposure window
Expanded Drug Panels Available– Common panels and specialty tests
Lab based for admissible/certified results Adulteration of samples is very difficult
– Chemical treatment can affect testing
Hair Details
Court admissible Non-Gender specific Requires habitual
use; Single use less likely detectable
Detects consumption and exposure of drug based upon metabolites
Nail Testing
Longer Duration for Detection– Previous 180 days – finger; longer period for toe– Finger or Toe nail – cannot be mixed– 10-14 day initial exposure window
Expanding Drug Panels Available– Common panels and specialty tests
Lab based for admissible/certified results Adulteration of samples is exceptionally difficult
Nail Testing
Collection designed to detect habitual or consistent use, single use is less likely to be detect due to small amounts
Alcohol Testing
Breath Test – In body right now/Under the influence PeTH – Blood spot test
– 21 days for Binge Drinking: 4-6 drinks
Urine EtG test– 80 hour window of detection – Metabolized alcohol
Hair test– Segmented available, head or body hair
Nail test– Finger nail only, toe nail is in process for validation
Cut-Off Levels
Testing answers question of “Yes or No” Cut-off levels designed to prevent positives for unintentional exposure
(I was in the room when …..) Cannot be used as the final answer for amount consumed, that
depends upon:– Body height/weight, physical activity and metabolism– Frequency of consumption and purity of the drug– Method of consumption and nutrition/water intake
Drug levels are demonstrative of drug consumption Levels can indicate consistent use and compared over time can show
increased or decreased use as long as the variables are kept constant (best in hair/nail for long term)
Confirmation for Samples in Evidence
Defense attorneys can request a confirmation of blood samples for defendants for metabolite levels
Can be used on either alcohol or drug cases Work done by certified forensic labs and court
admissible – Comparison of levels to challenge evidence validity– Confirmation that the drug in question is present
Samples used for confirmation are the evidence taken during in processing
Additional Info
Segmented hair testing for more panels of drugs Emerging Technology – SensAbues
– Breath collection device – Split sample for confirmation– Variable tests based upon situation– Totally portable, gender neutral, non-invasive
Creatinine levels – Indicate dilution and have specific ranges
Observed Collections (Urine only)– Saliva testing is a better solution in most cases– Prevent adulteration or substitution
Conclusions
Remember:– Testing is a series of yes or no questions– Need to compare “apples to apples” hair urine, etc.– Time frame and dead space (time needed for body to
process)– Overlap and change collection methods– Prevent adulteration – insert verbiage to prevent masking
use and short notice for random testing– Accountability and to show compliance; “I know I’ve done
wrong but I’ve right for X days now”
Questions and POC info
Questions
POC:
Kelly R. Broome
Cell: 210-315-3773
Office: 512-992-0872