Simultaneous application of the COZART® DDS801 and DRUG WIPE® 5+ oral fluid screening devices in an experimental procedure for roadside drug testing

Objectives: Oral fluid is increasingly used as the biological matrix of choice in roadside drug testing. Collection of oral fluid is noninvasive, rapid, simple and can be carried out by the driver himself under supervision. To improve the efficiency and applicability of roadside drug testing, it is necessary to use simple, rapid and reliable oral fluid screening devices and adopt an experimental procedure in which screening, evaluation of driving impairment and sample collection for confirmatory analyses take place within the same short timeframe. Materials and Methods: Between December 2010 and February 2011, the local Police of Turin organized a series of periodic roadside drug tests. The aim of the study was to apply an experimental procedure in which the DrugWipe® 5+ (Securetec Detektions-Systeme, Munich, Germany) and the Cozart® DDS801 (Concateno, Abingdon, UK) portable devices could be simultaneously used for oral fluid drug screening and the results immediately compared. In cases of positive testing, medical personnel from the Italian Red Cross ascertained the occurrence of driving impairment through objective examination and collected the biological samples (an unstimulated oral fluid sample and urine) for confirmatory analyses. Samples were sealed and initialled by the medical personnel. The chain of custody was secured when samples were sent to the toxicology laboratory for confirmatory analyses. Both urine and oral fluid samples were tested for Δ9-THC, cocaine, morphine, codeine, 6-MAM, methadone, ketamine, amphetamine and methamphetamine by GC-MS operating in SIM mode. Results: A total of 397 drivers were subjected to roadside drug testing. Out of 397, 364 subjects (91.7%) resulted in negative tests. Based on symptoms and/or oral fluid test results, 33 drivers (8.3%) suspected of drug associated impairment were taken to the support vehicle to be checked by the full procedure described above. In 26 cases out of 33, the oral fluid samples results were negative by both DrugWipe®5+ and Cozart® DDS801 devices, whereas 7 samples were positive and processed with confirmatory analysis. Three of these samples were positive for cannabinoids (Δ9-THC: 958 ng/mL; 37 ng/mL; 17 ng/mL); one for cocaine (40 ng/mL) and one for opiates and methadone (morphine: 229 ng/mL; codeine: 136 ng/mL; 6- MAM: 13 ng/mL; methadone: 357 ng/mL). The DrugWipe®5+ and Cozart® DDS801 devices yielded two false positive results for amphetamine, one for opiates (only the Cozart device), and one false negative result for opiates (only the DrugWipe device). Conclusion: The developed protocol for roadside drug testing proved to be rapid and efficient. Oral fluid collection was feasible under roadside operation. Commercial screening devices such as Cozart® DDS801 and DrugWipe®5+ can be easily used by moderately trained police personnel to rapidly identify drivers who may have used drugs, although the results must be confirmed by medical examination and laboratory confirmation analysis.