• “Compared to the saliva and urine methods we used previously, Intelligent Fingerprinting drug tests are clean, quick and exceptionally easy to use,” – Stefan van Jaarsveld, Compliance Manager, Hacklings

John Hacklings (Transport) Ltd, the company that delivers a complete road haulage, logistics, storage and distribution services offer through its Hacklings brand, is extending its use of fingerprint drug testing as part of its health and safety programme. Having rented an Intelligent Fingerprinting system previously, Hacklings has now purchased two of the latest fingerprint drug screening systems from the company, enabling testing to be carried out in-house across its sites, including two Palletline depots in Swindon and Cheltenham.

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s simple fingerprint-based sweat test takes around 10 minutes to screen for cocaine, cannabis, opiates and methamphetamine, using a portable reader and disposable test cartridges. The system is hygienic and easy to use, and offers a more dignified and convenient approach to drug testing than conventional tests which require urine or saliva sample collection. Hacklings will use the fingerprint drug test for a range of testing applications, including pre-employment drug screens, random testing – to promote safety across its depots and warehouses – and for-cause testing, should a situation arise within its logistics and warehouse operations.

Stefan van Jaarsveld, Compliance Manager for Hacklings, said: “Compared to the traditional saliva and urine methods we have used previously, Intelligent Fingerprinting drug tests are clean, quick and exceptionally easy to use. We started renting their test system when we originally moved to the fingerprint method about two years ago. Due to the success of this project, we have now purchased two of Intelligent Fingerprinting’s latest fingerprint drug testing systems. We will now be able to screen drivers and machinery operators on-site at any of our depots as we wish, providing us with complete drug testing control and flexibility across our operations.”

“As a founding member of The Hazchem Network – the only ADR and hazardous goods pallet network in the UK – safety is paramount across our organisation, embracing not only our employees but also our customers and the general public. As an early adopter of fingerprint drug testing, the Hacklings team is now really excited to be upgrading to the new system, featuring the DSR-Plus reader. It is lighter and smaller than the reader we used previously and will allow us to easily test remotely to support for-cause testing – potentially at a rare road traffic accident involving one of our drivers, or at a forklift collision in the warehouse. While these incidents are thankfully few and far between, the ability to be able to do tests on-site is a major advantage,” added Stefan.

“What is a constant, and a major benefit for us doing in-house testing with Intelligent Fingerprinting, is that the digital screen on the reader displays a positive or negative result for each drug in the test, and these results can also be printed onto a sticky label. This provides clarity for both testers and the person being tested, removing the need for interpretation or deliberation of the results.”

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s Dr Paul Yates said: “Hacklings is one of the longest-standing users of fingerprint drug testing and it is great that they are now investing in our newest technology to extend their use of our innovative method. We’re looking forward to seeing how Hacklings will be using our latest system to broaden testing out to other sites and remote locations, proactively encouraging health and safety drug policy adherence.”

Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting

Intelligent Fingerprinting is a leading provider of fast, innovative and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic solutions – including a portable Drug Screening System that works by analysing fingerprint sweat, and easy-to-use saliva-based COVID-19 lateral flow tests. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA. Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people.

About John Hacklings (Transport) Ltd

Since 1968 John Hacklings (Transport) Ltd has supported businesses around the UK – particularly across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire – by offering a complete logistics package. Up until January 2015 the company was based in Bourton on the Water but, with the acquisition of further premises in Swindon that expanded its warehouse facility by 200,000 square feet, it is now able to offer its complete Hacklings logistics package from both sites. https://hacklings.co.uk/about/

• Water industry construction specialist adopts in-house fingerprint drug testing and alcohol breathalyser tech
• “By bringing our drug and alcohol screening in-house, our Intelligent Fingerprinting investment will pay for itself in only 12 months* – ” Paul Turpin, Head of Safety, Health, Environment and Wellbeing, Stonbury
  *based on testing 10% of workforce per annum

Stonbury – an agile, direct delivery specialist contractor to both the water industry and wider water environment – has invested in Intelligent Fingerprinting technology for its drug testing activities. Using sweat from fingerprints, the Intelligent Fingerprinting drug screening system can detect the recent use of cocaine, cannabis, opiates and methamphetamine during the 16 hours or so prior to sample collection. The investment will enable Stonbury to bring screening in-house for the first time, replacing external drug testing services. Stonbury predicts that its investment in Intelligent Fingerprinting products – including the latest portable reader for analysing fingerprint drug test cartridges – will deliver a full Return on Investment within the first year.

Stonbury has purchased a DSR-Plus drug test reader and drug test cartridges from Intelligent Fingerprinting, enabling testing to be carried out in-house at its nine UK depots and numerous construction sites across the UK. The company is also sourcing alcohol breathalyser tests from Intelligent Fingerprinting. The company’s three-person safety team will conduct the drug and alcohol tests themselves, with results provided in ten minutes on site. The system is highly transportable, enabling the Stonbury safety team to be even more responsive to company drug screening requirements including random, post-accident and for-cause testing.

“By bringing our drug and alcohol screening in-house, we predict that our Intelligent Fingerprinting investment will pay for itself within the first year,” commented Paul Turpin, Head of Safety, Health, Environment and Wellbeing at Stonbury. “We previously used third-party providers for our drug and alcohol testing but reviewed this service at the start of the pandemic to limit contact with external parties. After closely evaluating the market, Intelligent Fingerprinting was the standout choice, with their innovative fingerprint drug testing kit proving to be exceptionally easy to use and offering a compelling financial proposition.

“With Intelligent Fingerprinting, for the first time we can complete our drug and alcohol screening in-house, allowing us to test wherever and how often we want to. This means that Stonbury can be reactive and flexible should there be the need for a for-cause screening. We have three people in our safety team, and we plan to equip each of them with their own fingerprint test kits by the end of year three,” he continued. “While Stonbury is extremely innovative in its technology adoption, we were also impressed by the number of construction sector firms – including MPB Structures, McCann Ltd and SDC Builders – that are already using Intelligent Fingerprinting’s solution. Unlike traditional tests, the fingerprint test doesn’t require additional infrastructure such as dedicated toilet facilities and gender-specific staff to supervise sample collection, which makes it an ideal solution for on-site testing while also supporting social distancing where required.”

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s Dr Paul Yates added: “Stonbury is a great example of a firm using drug and alcohol screening to support employee welfare, and we look forward to working with them as a one-stop partner for all their screening requirements and any subsequent back-to-lab confirmation tests. Testing is being used by Stonbury to ensure employees are fit for duty when handling the numerous different types of heavy plant such as diggers, drivers, dumpers; working at height and around bodies of deep water; and confined spaces. Impressively, not only is the company embarking on drug and alcohol testing, but it also has a wider support programme in place as part of its wellness programme. It is an excellent drug and alcohol policy.”

Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge on to which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test within ten minutes.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting

Intelligent Fingerprinting is a leading provider of fast, innovative and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic solutions – including a portable Drug Screening System that works by analysing fingerprint sweat, and easy-to-use saliva-based COVID-19 lateral flow tests. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA. Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people.

About Stonbury

Stonbury is an agile, direct delivery specialist contractor to both the water industry and wider water environment, with an emphasis on delivering innovative, low carbon and high-quality reliable solutions.

Currently holding 20 Frameworks, the organisation works for most of the UK’s water companies and the Environment Agency – either directly or through its major supply chains – to deliver high value, low-carbon solutions across their asset estates. This includes works on potable water, wastewater treatment centres and nature-based ‘green’ and ‘grey’ solutions that deliver smart, low-carbon environmental engineering. www.stonbury.com

• Saliva-based approach revolutionises COVID-19 lateral flow testing, with an easier test especially suitable for vulnerable and younger people
• Ready to support COVID-19 testing in schools, workplaces, universities, care homes, healthcare and public events
• Cambridge, UK, manufacturing facility set to produce four million tests per month

25th October 2021 – Intelligent Fingerprinting has announced that its saliva-based COVID-19 test now carries CE marking and is available for sale. The new VSS-GP COVID-19 Saliva Test uses a simple swab to collect saliva from just inside the cheek, providing a much easier alternative to current throat and nose tests that can cause gagging, sneezing or distress during sample collection.

Easier, more comfortable COVID-19 testing

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s reliable and easy-to-use saliva-based lateral flow test supports frequent COVID-19 testing across a range of applications, including schools, workplaces, public events such as sports or concerts, care homes, healthcare, airports and prisons. Find out how Intelligent Fingerprinting’s saliva-based test makes COVID-19 testing much easier for people by watching this short video.

Keeping plastic usage to a minimum

The Intelligent Fingerprinting VSS-GP COVID-19 test strip has been carefully designed to use minimal plastic. It has none of the plastic housing usually associated with lateral flow tests, helping to significantly reduce its environmental impact. The test strip is around 95% lighter than traditional lateral flow devices, contributing significantly to the reduction of the environmental impact of packaging and transportation.

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s Executive Chairman, Philip Hand explains: “Regular COVID-19 testing will continue to be part of our everyday lives for the foreseeable future, so it’s essential that we remove potential barriers to testing and make the whole process as simple and comfortable as possible. Our saliva-based test directly addresses this challenge, combining much simpler sample collection with high levels of accuracy. I’m delighted that our test is now CE marked, and we anticipate strong demand for saliva-based testing from markets around the world.

“We have already scaled up production capacity at our Cambridge, UK, manufacturing facility utilising existing equipment, have ISO 13485 quality control in place and, given initial demand and distributor agreements, we will be able to produce our new saliva-based COVID-19 tests at a rate of four million a month by the end of 2021. We also anticipate working with a range of distribution partners to make this test available across multiple markets,” he added.

Accurate results

Clinical precision testing of Intelligent Fingerprinting’s VSS-GP lateral flow saliva test has resulted in 100% sensitivity and specificity (n = 400 results) using RT-PCR verified samples containing SARS-CoV-2 virus samples (lowest viral titre Ct 28.5). CE marking has been achieved under the In Vitro Diagnostics Directive. The saliva-based test has been developed in the UK by Cambridge-based Intelligent Fingerprinting, developers and manufacturers of the world’s first and only fingerprint sweat drug test. The new COVID-19 test takes advantage of the company’s proven lateral flow technology expertise.

How it works

A swab is used to collect the saliva sample from the inside of the lower cheek, which is then mixed with a reagent buffer that has been pre-added to the collection tube in order to release the virus into the solution. The screening test is performed by inserting the tip of the VSS-GP test strip into the sample, providing a positive or negative result at 20 minutes. No instrumentation is required. The test uses gold immunonanoparticle technology to enable the visual detection of bound antigen via a control line and a red line on the test strip when a saliva sample is positive for the SARS-CoV-2 antigen.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting

Intelligent Fingerprinting is a leading provider of fast and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic solutions – including a portable Drug Screening System that works by analysing fingerprint sweat.  The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA. Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people.

UK steel stockholder implements mid-journey fingerprint drug testing for its HGV fleet

• Portable fingerprint drug test enables random testing – including samples being taken at 5-mile HGV layby load checks
• “The portability and rapid results offered by the Intelligent Fingerprinting system mean we have been able to change our drug testing operations, significantly improving employee safety,” Andrew Stephens, Group Health & Safety Manager, ParkerSteel Limited
• Flexible system will overhaul drug testing for manufacturer, supporting new employee induction, random testing, just cause and post-incident drug testing
  

ParkerSteel Limited, a leading UK steel stockholder and processor working with manufacturing and construction firms, is deploying fingerprint drug testing as part of its continual health and safety initiatives. ParkerSteel will use Intelligent Fingerprinting‘s drug screening system to encourage adherence to the company’s drug safety policy by employees, including HGV drivers in charge of up to 40-tonne steel loads.

The new fingerprint drug test analyses fingertip sweat to screen for cannabis, cocaine, opiates and methamphetamine, identifying potential drug use within around 16 hours prior to the test. This is the timeframe within which illicit drug use is most likely to affect employees’ fitness for duty, potentially putting themselves, their colleagues and the general public at risk. Results are available on the spot in ten minutes, with high levels of accuracy. ParkerSteel is also making full use of the fingerprint-based system’s flexibility as part of its ongoing testing regime by carrying out testing for new employee induction, random, just cause and post incident. The portable fingerprint test will replace the company’s previous use of urine tests.

Commenting on the decision to opt for fingerprint-based drug screening, Andrew Stephens, Group Health & Safety Manager at ParkerSteel, said: “The portability and rapid results delivered by the Intelligent Fingerprinting system mean we have been able to change our drug testing operations for the better – improving employee safety.

“With our heavy steel products, we are always dealing with potentially dangerous situations. As a company we are very safety conscious – as any accident involving the processing, manoeuvring and transport of such heavy products could be unforgiving. ParkerSteel is focused on ensuring that our employees are fit for work, and this is why Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug test is an excellent choice for our workplace drug testing needs. With its shorter window of detection, Intelligent Fingerprinting provides us with a quick and dignified way of identifying potential employee drug misuse in the period immediately prior to their working shift. We find that this screening approach gives us significantly better insight into possible impairment than the urine test we were using previously.”

“Due to the system’s portability, we can now test drivers randomly when they are in charge of steel loads of up to 40 tonnes. A key company safety requirement is that on each of our 48 HGV loaded journeys the driver pulls over into a safe place after five miles to check that chains and webbing straps are still secure, and the load is safe. We have just started to take advantage of this safety stop to carry out some random drug tests.” Andrew Stephens added.

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s Dr Paul Yates explains: “ParkerSteel has recognised the versatility of fingerprint-based drug testing to find new ways to encourage adherence to its drug safety policy. The fact that our test enables rapid in-house testing without special facilities or specialist staff not only saves time and money but also helps ensure truly random testing. Additionally, the portability of the Intelligent Fingerprinting test method allows ParkerSteel to test drivers at the depot or during non-driving time, meaning there’s no impact on productivity.”

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s simple fingerprint-based sweat test takes around 10 minutes to screen for cocaine, cannabis, opiates and methamphetamine. Hygienic and easy to use, it offers a more dignified and convenient approach to drug testing than conventional tests which require urine or saliva samples.

Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting
Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable Drug Screening System works by analysing fingerprint sweat. It is non-invasive, fast and cost-effective, with sample collection taking seconds and simultaneous screening for multiple drug groups in ten minutes. A laboratory confirmation service is also available.

The system has applications within many sectors and customers include employers in safety-critical industries such as construction, transport and logistics firms, drug treatment and family safeguarding organisations, as well as UK coroners. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA.

Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people. www.intelligentfingerprinting.com

Twitter @iFingerprinting

About ParkerSteel Limited
ParkerSteel Limited is a processor and stockholder of multi metal and engineering tool products. With three strategically positioned depots, and over 15,000 tonnes in stock, ParkerSteel supply a wide variety of steel and aluminium products to industries across the UK, delivered by their dedicated fleet of vehicles.  www.parkersteel.co.uk

Cod Beck Blenders puts safety first with adoption of fingerprint drug testing

• Intelligent Fingerprinting tests enable random in-house testing on demand, for the first time, to increase employee safety
• “With drug testing, people don’t challenge the result, they challenge the process, and we know that the Intelligent Fingerprinting system is robust,”  Wayne Harrison, Environment, Health and Safety Manager
  

Cod Beck Blenders, one of the UK’s leading providers of toll and contract manufacturing services for the food, food additives, veterinary medicines and speciality chemicals sectors, has adopted Intelligent Fingerprinting’s 10-minute fingerprint-based workplace drug testing kit at its purpose-built eight-acre manufacturing site in North Yorkshire. The use of fingerprint drug testing supports the company’s proactive employee welfare and safety policy. Cod Beck Blenders is also deploying alcohol breathalyser tests supplied by Intelligent Fingerprinting, enabling random in-house drug and alcohol testing, on-site, on demand for the first time.

Cod Beck Blenders provides appointments with an occupational nurse every month for employee health checks and wellness support to promote safety for all in the workplace. Previously, check-ups included drug and alcohol tests but, with the date and time of these appointments shared in advance, there was no element of random testing. In addition, the tests were urine-based and samples had to be sent away for analysis, with a three-day wait for results. Cod Beck Blenders felt that being able to conduct random on-site tests would enhance its best practice employee health and safety initiatives and support its proactive drug and alcohol policies. After investigating a range of market options, the company decided to adopt fingerprint drug testing from Intelligent Fingerprinting.

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s simple fingerprint-based sweat test takes around 10 minutes to screen for cocaine, cannabis, opiates and methamphetamine. Hygienic and easy to use, it offers a more dignified and convenient approach to drug testing than conventional tests which require urine or saliva samples.

Wayne Harrison, Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Cod Beck Blenders explains: “Safety for all at our manufacturing and processing plant is a huge part of our company ethos. Employees are not only managing fork-lift trucks and processing machinery, but also handling animal medicines and regulated products so they always need to be alert. Cod Beck Blenders has a proactive approach to drug and alcohol policy adherence as part of its occupational health and support service activities. However, while we’re confident that we don’t have any issues at the plant, we were keen to refine our testing approach. We’re pleased that we have been able to bring both drug and alcohol tests in-house with the help of Intelligent Fingerprinting.

“The fingerprint drug test and alcohol breathalyser tests from Intelligent Fingerprinting are both highly convenient for us. We have found the fingerprint drug test to be non-invasive, and much more hygienic than our previous urine-based tests. Most importantly for us, we can now have results in just ten minutes – a major improvement over our previous 72-hour wait for urine drug test results,” continued Wayne. “In my experience with drug testing, people don’t challenge the result, they challenge the process and we know that the Intelligent Fingerprinting system is robust. At the same time, it is exceptionally easy for us to test in-house. We’ve also been able to broaden our testing capabilities, and we now have multiple members of the team – HR, HS, Management, Night Shift Controller – who can conduct the test 24/7 if required.”

Dr Paul Yates of Intelligent Fingerprinting adds: “Cod Beck Blenders are currently using the drug and alcohol tests for random testing or ‘for cause’ if a situation ever arises. And, now that the company has drug testing kits available at all times in-house, they have the control to increase or decrease testing as required – they can also extend use to support recruitment at a later stage. This is another example of how Intelligent Fingerprinting provides easy to use workplace drug testing kits for organisations to control at their convenience.”

Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable Drug Screening System works by analysing fingerprint sweat. It is non-invasive, fast and cost-effective, with sample collection taking seconds and simultaneous screening for multiple drug groups in ten minutes. A laboratory confirmation service is also available.

The system has applications within many sectors and customers include employers in safety-critical industries such as construction, transport and logistics firms, drug treatment and family safeguarding organisations, as well as UK coroners. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA.

Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people.

About Cod Beck Blenders

Operating since 1988, Cod Beck Blenders serves world leading clients across a wide range of industries, from food ingredients and animal feed additives to veterinary medicines and pharmaceutical products. The company provides toll and custom manufacturing of both intermediate and finished products. Its purpose-built eight-acre site in North Yorkshire includes six dedicated units, enabling the company to offer a full range of services including blending, packing and specialised chemical drying of powders and liquids.

With accreditations and licences from the leading industry bodies, consistently delivering contract manufacturing excellence is at the heart of company ethos. As well as offering a high level of operational skills and sound technical expertise, the company has rigorous procedures in place to deliver an effective quality system and ensure safe product stewardship. www.codbeckblenders.co.uk

“In our industry, safety always comes first, so it makes sense to use the most modern method of drug testing to support our proactive drug policy”

In-house test provides results in only 10 minutes, screening for recent use of cocaine, cannabis, opiates and methamphetamine, that could affect an employee’s ability to work safely

Dragon LNG, a company responsible for receiving, storing and regasifying Liquefied Natural Gas at its Pembrokeshire terminal in Wales, is the first organisation in the international gas industry to deploy a revolutionary new fingerprint-based drug testing technology.

Dragon LNG is using the simple 10-minute fingerprint drug test kit from Intelligent Fingerprinting to encourage adherence to its workplace drug policy. From an employee or contractor’s quick and easy fingerprint sweat sample, Dragon LNG can use the hygienic fingerprint drug test to screen on-site for ingestion of illegal substances that can influence an employee’s ability to work safely.

Anyone under the influence of drugs could make impaired judgements – creating a health and safety risk for employees, their colleagues and the public. As Dragon LNG is responsible for handling liquefied natural gas, health and safety is clearly critical for the organisation. The company was keen to be a pioneer in the gas sector with its deployment of the Intelligent Fingerprinting drug test.

Commenting on the project, Dragon LNG’s Lydia Uchronski said: “Dragon’s number one priority is safety, and our facility has been designed, engineered and constructed to ensure health, safety and environmental compliance and reliability. We work tirelessly to keep our team, neighbours, communities and environment safe, so when we learnt about the Intelligent Fingerprinting drug test, we were interested in how it could help Dragon LNG to further improve our health and safety processes. The fingerprint-based test is remarkably easy to use and gives us access to in-house initial testing that we can carry out completely on-site whenever we need to. If we find any non-negative results, we then conduct a confirmation test that is sent away for laboratory analysis. Intelligent Fingerprinting’s solution gives us the simplicity and flexibility we need while helping us to proactively enforce what is an essential safety process. The fingerprint test has provided us with a non-invasive portable drug testing solution that’s easy-to-use in practice and gives us the levels of accuracy we need.”

Dr Paul Yates of Intelligent Fingerprinting added: “The adoption of our fingerprint-based drug testing approach is gaining momentum because companies like Dragon LNG can take control of their own end-to-end testing processes. And, because our system has a short window of detection, we can provide the most relevant fitness for duty test. This approach ideally complements already effective and agreed workplace drug and alcohol policies in the least intrusive and most dignified way.”

Fingerprint-based Drug Testing – How it Works

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable Drug Screening System works by analysing fingerprint sweat. It is non-invasive, fast and cost-effective, with sample collection taking seconds and simultaneous screening for multiple drug groups in ten minutes. A laboratory confirmation service is also available.

The system has applications within many sectors and customers include employers in safety-critical industries such as construction, transport and logistics firms, drug treatment and family safeguarding organisations, as well as UK coroners. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA.

Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people.

About Dragon LNG

The Dragon LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) import terminal at Waterston, Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, Wales receives, stores and regasifies Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) – a vital source of clean and reliable energy for the UK. www.dragonlng.co.uk

The terminal is the result of shareholders’ multi-million-pound investments into Wales and the UK’s energy infrastructure. Dragon LNG is a standalone business jointly financed by two industry share-holders.

Ownership of the terminal is Shell 50%, Ancala LNG Ltd 50%, and there are contracts in place governing the use of capacity rights (Shell 50%, PETRONAS 50%).

Sewer company turns to fingerprint drug testing

• “Fingerprint method more reliable than saliva test, where we kept getting invalid samples, wasting valuable tests” – Gavin Greenfield, HSEQ Manager, Public Sewer Services
• “No one likes paperwork, and the whole process is significantly easier with Intelligent Fingerprinting”

Drainage experts, Public Sewer Services, has upgraded its workplace drug testing operations by adopting the innovative Intelligent Fingerprinting drug testing system. Managed in-house, the test uses simple fingerprint sweat to quickly determine if an individual has recently ingested cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis or opiates – all of which can affect an employee’s or contractor’s ability to work safely and/or operate machinery in dangerous environments.

Public Sewer Services was looking for a replacement drug testing method for its incumbent saliva test. The saliva testing product was proving difficult to use, with Public Sewer Services conducting several tests that were spoiled and provided inconclusive results.

Gavin Greenfield, HSEQ Manager at Public Sewer Services said: “We were looking for an alternative to saliva drug testing as we had a run of saliva tests being ruined due to ‘dry mouth’ (lack of saliva). This was frustrating as it was not only wasting the drug test products, but also the Safety Manager’s time and the productivity associated with employees having to take time away from their roles for testing. Saliva tests were taking us about 35 minutes each, end-to-end. In contrast we are finding that the end-to-end fingerprint testing method is really quick, with sample collection taking seconds and results available within only ten minutes. So, it’s a big efficiency gain for Public Sewer Services. After only a couple of weeks, the Intelligent Fingerprinting method is proving more reliable for us than saliva tests, particularly given our previous issue with inconclusive tests.”

“When we heard about the fingerprint drug test we were really surprised by the simplicity of the concept and the potential efficiency of testing using fingerprint sweat for the sample. It almost seemed too good to be true. However, the science is proven and the results speak for themselves,” continued Gavin. “We were able to roll the process out quickly, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the accompanying processes – no one likes paperwork, and the whole workplace drug testing task is significantly easier with Intelligent Fingerprinting. I found the paperwork for the saliva test we were using cumbersome, with too many tick boxes needed to ensure adherence to the testing process. In contrast, the fingerprint test is remarkably easy to use, and time-saving results labels can be printed immediately and added to the employee’s paperwork. There is just one A4 form per donor to complete for both the initial screening test and, if ever required, the confirmation test. This makes our jobs much easier and tests are far simpler to administer.”

Dr Paul Yates of Intelligent Fingerprinting added: “Public Sewer Services is another great example of workplace drug testing – in this case for random, pre-employment and for cause testing. A workplace drug testing process needs to be as easy and accessible as possible, and that is how we have designed our system from end-to-end – managed in-house, with rapid sample collection and results, portable, hygienic, time and cost-efficient. I am really pleased that Public Sewer Services are switching to this more modern and convenient way of drug testing.”

Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works
Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

Email: [email protected]  Tel: +44 (0)7791 720460

About Intelligent Fingerprinting
Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable Drug Screening System works by analysing fingerprint sweat. It is non-invasive, fast and cost-effective, with sample collection taking seconds and simultaneous screening for multiple drug groups in ten minutes. A laboratory confirmation service is also available.

The system has applications within many sectors and customers include employers in safety-critical industries such as construction, transport and logistics firms, drug treatment and family safeguarding organisations, as well as UK coroners. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA.

Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people. www.intelligentfingerprinting.com

Twitter @iFingerprinting

About Public Sewer Services
Public Sewer Services has been providing top quality drainage services across England for over 25 years. The company provides an in-house, one-stop solution for all aspects of water and drainage, including traditional open cut excavation, tankering, CCTV, blockage clearance and root cutting. www.publicsewerservices.co.uk

• Saliva-based method enables simpler and quicker collection of samples
• Entirely UK researched, developed and manufactured lateral flow COVID-19 antigen test
• Designed to support COVID-19 testing in schools, workplaces, universities, care homes, healthcare and public events
• Test takes only 20 minutes, with independent clinical evaluation showing 100% concordance with routine accurate reference RT-PCR
• Environmentally-friendly test strip design removes requirement for wasteful plastic cartridge casing and associated transportation costs

UK company Intelligent Fingerprinting, manufacturers of the world’s first and only fingerprint sweat drug test, has now developed an easy-to-use saliva-based lateral flow test for the rapid detection of the COVID-19 antigen. In contrast to existing COVID-19 tests that require unpleasant, invasive nose and throat swabs, Intelligent Fingerprinting’s test uses a simple swab to collect a saliva sample just from the inside of the cheek. The test strip is deliberately simple in design and engineered to keep plastic usage to a minimum – with none of the plastic casing present that is usually associated with lateral flow tests.

The Intelligent Fingerprinting COVID-19 test’s easy saliva sample collection makes it particularly suitable for testing more vulnerable people and children.  It facilitates frequent testing across a range of applications including schools, workplaces, public events, care homes, healthcare, airports and prisons. Test results are available in 20 minutes – a third quicker than most current nose and throat lateral flow tests.

“Almost everyone who has taken a nose or throat swab to test for COVID-19 knows just how unpleasant they can be. It is important to make COVID-19 testing as easy and comfortable as possible, particularly as frequent and simplified testing will continue to play a key role in the global response to the pandemic. In developing our new COVID-19 saliva test, we have successfully combined the benefits of much simpler sample collection with high levels of accuracy using our existing technology,” explained Intelligent Fingerprinting’s Executive Chairman Philip Hand.

“The introduction of our new COVID-19 test involved rapid design, development and manufacture within the UK over a ten-month period. Manufacturing capacity at our Cambridge plant, utilising existing equipment and ISO 13485 quality control, is ready to support the production of millions of tests per month, and we also anticipate we will be working with existing and new distribution partners to make this test available across multiple markets,” he added. “At Intelligent Fingerprinting we continue to demonstrate our ability to develop entirely new lateral flow testing concepts, in addition to our unique fingerprint-based drug tests that are sold within the UK, US and other international markets.”

Intelligent Fingerprinting VSS-GP test for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s VSS-GP is a lateral flow test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 antigen using a saliva sample, with results in 20 minutes. Through independent evaluation, the test has demonstrated 100% sensitivity in testing 150 positive clinical samples (Ct range 18.0 to 28.0), and 100% specificity following tests with 250 RT-PCR confirmed negative clinical saliva samples. The company is finalising the Technical File for applying the CE mark on the product under the In Vitro Diagnostics Directive, while also planning to transition to the In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation for European CE marking for professional and self-test use. The test comprises a four-part kit with 50 single-use COPAN CE-marked swabs for saliva collection, 50 single-use plastic collection tubes with lids, and 50 single-use VSS-GP SARS-CoV2 test strips, along with a dropper bottle containing the reagent buffer.

How it works

A swab is used to collect the saliva sample from the inside of the lower cheek, which is then mixed with a reagent buffer that has been pre-added to the collection tube in order to release the virus. The screening test is performed by inserting the tip of the VSS-GP test strip into the sample, providing a positive or negative result at 20 minutes. No instrumentation is required. The test uses gold immunonanoparticle technology to enable the visual detection of bound antigen via a control line and a red line on the test strip when a saliva sample is positive for the SARS-CoV-2 antigen.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting

Intelligent Fingerprinting is a leading provider of fast and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic solutions – including a portable Drug Screening System that works by analysing fingerprint sweat.  The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA. Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people.

Fingerprint drug test roll-out underway across European construction sites

• Crown Roofing and Cladding kicks off drug and alcohol testing at one of its European sites to promote employee health, safety and wellbeing
  
• “Intelligent Fingerprinting provides us with an in-house, on-site drug testing system that is incredibly easy to use” – Emma O’Gorman-Wall, COO, Crown Roofing and Cladding.
  

Well-established global building envelope specialist contractor, Crown Roofing and Cladding, is currently rolling out the Intelligent Fingerprinting UK-designed and manufactured fingerprint drug test across its European sites. Due to the high-risk work at heights that it carries out, Crown has a zero-tolerance approach to drugs and alcohol misuse. The company researched and purchased the innovative Intelligent Fingerprinting test to enable on-site, in-house drug testing, along with an alcohol breathalyser from the same company, with the objective of ensuring everyone is safe at work. Crown Roofing and Cladding now has plans to roll out the in-house testing approach to promote positive adherence to its drug and alcohol policies across construction sites in Ireland and other European sites.

Described as exceptionally easy-to-use by existing customers, the fingerprint drug test works by testing a simple sample of fingerprint sweat – enabling results to be determined within 10 minutes. Crown’s own well-trained staff will carry out the random tests in-house as required, acting as a deterrent to help underpin the company’s drug and alcohol policies.

Crown Roofing and Cladding was particularly attracted to the Intelligent Fingerprinting drug test because of its applicability for drug testing in the workplace. Fingerprint drug testing’s shorter ‘window of detection’ gives organisations like Crown a simple and dignified way of identifying potential employee use of cocaine, cannabis, opiates and methamphetamine in the period immediately before their working shift.

Emma O’Gorman Wall, COO at Crown Roofing and Cladding explains: “As a company, we are highly committed to employee and stakeholder health, safety and wellbeing. This is our constant focus. Our objective, from a health, safety and wellbeing point of view, is to keep everyone safe on site and ensure every individual gets home safely each evening to their families. With the help of the Intelligent Fingerprinting system, we have been able to quickly roll-out random drug and alcohol testing ourselves – all in-house. Through remote training, our Health and Safety Manager and team can conduct drug testing as and when required. We are randomly testing at one of our European sites at the moment, and are so impressed with the system that we’re now looking to roll it out to our other operational sites across Europe and Ireland. The system is incredibly easy to use, and the benefit of being able to own the entire process in-house is very appealing to us. Importantly, the system tests for relevant recent drug use – rather than over a longer period – in line with workers’ union guidelines.”

Philip Hand, Executive Chairman, Intelligent Fingerprinting, added: “While our drug testing system is UK-designed and manufactured, we’re increasingly exporting our solution worldwide. As organisations recognise the clear benefits of in-house control of the end-to-end drug testing process, we’re expecting multi-country roll-outs of the Intelligent Fingerprinting drug test system to become more and more frequent. Like many of our customers, Crown Roofing and Cladding also wanted to engage with a single supplier to support its drug and alcohol testing, so we are pleased to be supplying breath alcohol tests as well as our fingerprint drug testing system.”

Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works
Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting
Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable Drug Screening System works by analysing fingerprint sweat. It is non-invasive, fast and cost-effective, with sample collection taking seconds and simultaneous screening for multiple drug groups in ten minutes. A laboratory confirmation service is also available.

The system has applications within many sectors and customers include employers in safety-critical industries such as construction, transport and logistics firms, drug treatment and family safeguarding organisations, as well as UK coroners. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA.

Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people. www.intelligentfingerprinting.com   Twitter @iFingerprinting

About Crown Roofing and Cladding
Established in 1993, Crown Roofing & Cladding is Ireland’s leading specialist roofing, cladding and façade contractor, and is the leading building envelope partner of choice. Delivering large-scale, mission-critical projects across Ireland, the UK and Europe, their excellent reputation is unparalleled in the industry. Their clients include tier one main contractors, the top names in digital technology, social media multinationals, pharmaceutical companies, and property developers. Crown Roofing and Cladding has been awarded as one of Ireland’s Best Workplaces®, and has been certified as a Great Place to Work® for the second consecutive year.
www.crownroofing.ie

• “For Health & Safety we know we need to drug test in the construction industry, and if there is a more dignified alternative to urine testing, then we are obviously delighted to use it!” – Martin Cragg, Health & Safety Director
• Concrete specialist MPB structures latest to adopt test that simply uses fingerprint sweat to determine in minutes if a worker has recently ingested opiates, methamphetamine, cocaine or cannabis

Concrete frame specialist MPB Structures is the latest construction leader to adopt fingerprint drug testing for random on-site drug testing to promote site safety. The company is now using the innovative Intelligent Fingerprinting system that only requires fingerprint sweat samples, which can be collected while social distancing. The test can be carried out in-house by the company’s four safety managers, with results for opiates, methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis all available within minutes. MPB is the latest in a series of leading construction companies to switch to fingerprint drug testing, including housebuilder Keepmoat Homes, SDC Builders and Chasetown Civil.

With a turnover of £120M, MPB is one of the country’s top 10 concrete frame contractors and works on major rail, road and air infrastructure projects across the country from its Midlands-based headquarters. The company has a policy to randomly test 10% of its 1000 workers from sites across the UK to ensure that its workforce is fit to work. The Intelligent Fingerprinting solution delivers results on-site within minutes, and replaces MPB’s previous urine drug test method that was provided by an external testing company.

Martin Cragg, Health & Safety Director at MPB Structures said: “At MPB we work in a high-risk industry and are committed to a programme of active drug testing to reinforce our drug usage policy. Our goal is to ensure that workers aren’t under the influence of drugs that can affect their awareness and cause injury to themselves, colleagues or the public. We previously used urine cups to test that, at the time, were the best available option for us. However, no one likes having to pee in a cup or test someone else’s urine!

“The new fingerprint method is far more hygienic and convenient for everyone involved and has been well-received by both our workers and in-house testers. Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing solution is simpler all around and makes a necessary task significantly easier – especially as we don’t have to tape off and segregate toilet cubicles etc or remove workers from a site to provide a sample. Also, due to the nature of our business and need for on-site testing, we are reassured that the Intelligent Fingerprinting system is robust and eliminates the embarrassment we all previously endured with the urine cup method.”

Philip Hand, Executive Chairman at Intelligent Fingerprinting added: “It’s great to see momentum building in the construction sector, particularly as major site operators recognise the stand-out benefits of fingerprint drug testing. Convenient and non-invasive sample collection using our patented Intelligent Fingerprinting Drug Screening Cartridge means that drug testing can be conducted almost anywhere, and the process is far more hygienic than traditional urine- or saliva-based methods. It is fantastic to see the UK construction sector being so innovative and committed to Health and Safety while also, as proven in many of our customer examples, standing to make significant efficiency gains through using Intelligent Fingerprinting over more traditional drug testing methods.”

Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

About Intelligent Fingerprinting

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable Drug Screening System works by analysing fingerprint sweat. It is non-invasive, fast and cost-effective, with sample collection taking seconds and simultaneous screening for multiple drug groups in ten minutes. A laboratory confirmation service is also available.

The system has applications within many sectors and customers include employers in safety-critical industries such as construction, transport and logistics firms, drug treatment and family safeguarding organisations, as well as UK coroners. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA.

Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people.

About MPB Structures

MPB Structures is one of the UK’s leading premier concrete frame specialists. A market leader that has built its reputation on an innovative proactive approach to construction. With 1000 workers, the company has sites across the UK with offices in Manchester, Corby, Birmingham and London. Customers include Sir Robert McAlpine, Vinci, George Downing Construction, ENGIE, Galliford Try, Berkeley Group, MACE and Winvic.

www.mpb.co.uk