Transcript Legal Applications for Drug and Alcohol Testing

Legal Applications for Drug and
Alcohol Testing
Kelly R. Broome
ARCpoint Labs
[email protected]
210-315-3773
Agenda
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Introduction
Saliva
Urine
Hair
Nail
Alcohol Testing
Cut-off Levels
Confirmation Testing for Samples in Evidence
Emerging Capabilities
Conclusions
Questions
Saliva Testing
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Shortest Duration of Drug Detection
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Limited Drug Panels Available
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2-7 Days of previous use
15 minute initial exposure window
5-12 Panel Drug Test
Instant with/without lab confirmation or lab based
Legal specific version
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Includes Chain of Custody documentation
Instant result with Lab confirmation
Urine Testing
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Medium Duration Detection Window
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Widest Range of Drug Panels Available
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5-7 days to 6 weeks – Drug specific variation
2-4 hour initial exposure window
100s of Drug Tests available – Specialty tests
Instant with lab confirmation or lab based
Can be adulterated or diluted
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Methods to identify cheating efforts
Observed testing to defeat cheating
Hair Testing
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Longer Duration for Detection
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Expanded Drug Panels Available
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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
Common panels and specialty tests
Lab based for admissible/certified results
Adulteration of samples is very difficult
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Chemical treatment can affect testing
Hair Details
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Court admissible
Non-Gender specific
Requires habitual
use; Single use less
likely detectable
Detects consumption
and exposure of drug
based upon
metabolites
Nail Testing
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Longer Duration for Detection
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Expanding Drug Panels Available
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Previous 180 days – finger; longer period for toe
Finger or Toe nail – cannot be mixed
10-14 day initial exposure window
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
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Breath Test – In body right now/Under the influence
PeTH – Blood spot test
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Urine EtG test
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80 hour window of detection – Metabolized alcohol
Hair test
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21 days for Binge Drinking: 4-6 drinks
Segmented available, head or body hair
Nail test
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Finger nail only, toe nail is in process for validation
Cut-Off Levels
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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:
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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
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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
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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
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Segmented hair testing for more panels of drugs
Emerging Technology – SensAbues
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Creatinine levels
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Breath collection device
Split sample for confirmation
Variable tests based upon situation
Totally portable, gender neutral, non-invasive
Indicate dilution and have specific ranges
Observed Collections (Urine only)
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Saliva testing is a better solution in most cases
Prevent adulteration or substitution
Conclusions
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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
[email protected]
Cell: 210-315-3773
Office: 512-992-0872