fda clearance

Interesting article for anyone who may doubt the commercial significance of FDA clearance and just what it means for HGR. Seems that government agencies have been putting the brakes on oral testing uptake and for one reason only....you guessed it...absence of any FDA approvals.

Its a June report re a bill for introducing oral work place testing in Hawaii

New Workplace Drug Testing Methods
By Tammy Mori

A new method of workplace drug testing is on the way to the Islands.

The Lieutenant Governor signed a bill today that will allow employers to use an oral drug test.

Instead of taking a blood or urine drug sample, this test will examine your saliva.

You can get a positive read on the job site within three minutes.

Curtis Akiona and his crew rely on each other everyday at work.

Whether it's unloading equipment, or working in a high rise, he says it's vital that each employee comes to work sober and drug free.

"We don't want anyone to drop anything, trip, or fall," explained Curtis Akiona, a Hidano Construction Employee.

Employees at Hidano Construction are already drug tested.

"Getting the cup and the color sticker, and going to the bathroom," describes Audrey Hidano, an Employer at Hidano Construction.

With the passage of this new oral testing method, it just got easier.

"With this oral testing, I guess the employer will know right away whether you do use drugs," says Akiona.

"And in a dangerous industry as construction, anything we can do to do to clean up the industry and make it free of drugs, is the ultimate goal," adds Kyle Chock, Director of Pacific Resource Partnership.

The Carpenter's Union says it will costs less than the more conventional methods.

"It will take us from $50 to less than $17 a test," says Chock.

Although the Department of Health supports faster and cheaper tests, it questions the accuracy of these tests since they are not FDA approved.

'"We did have those concerns because what does a given level of chemical mean, what's the significance of it mean, there could be different interpretations," found Larry Lau, with the State Department of Health.

The new bill requires a second FDA approved test, before an employer decides to fire or not hire someone due to a positive result.

"The second step makes sure that it's highly reliable in a scientific sense," says Lau.

Giving employees little reason to worry...

"Employees to me, if they're not on anything, it's like what's the problem what's the risk," questions Hidano.

The oral drug test wouldn't be limited to the construction industry.

The Lieutenant Governor believes other employers will take a wait and see approach, before they try the new product as well.