CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Police Department has received its new oral drug testing equipment, as well as the training provided by the Tennessee Highway Safety Office. That means the equipment is now available for CPD to use in the field.
THSO spokesperson Tony Burnett previously confirmed that the device would be available following the training, which was made up of a PowerPoint presentation explaining the device, what it tests for and proper care for the device. They also discussed oral fluid in general and how it differs from other body fluids, according to previous reports.
CPD spokesperson Scott Beaubien told Clarksville Now on Thursday that the SoToxa device will be available for scheduled checkpoints, and it will also be available for Fatal Crash Team (FACT) investigators as part of their investigations.
| PREVIOUSLY: What to know about Clarksville Police’s plan for new oral drug testing equipment
What is an Oral Fluid Mobile Test System?
The new oral drug testing system is handheld, allowing officers to take a sample of a driver’s saliva and test it for drugs on the spot, according to previous reports. CPD is one of several Tennessee agencies to receive the SoToxa device.
The SoToxa Oral Fluid Mobile Test System comes from Abbott, and they describe the system as being developed to meet the high-performance demands of law enforcement agencies while maintaining reliable results, according to their website.
The analyzer can store over 10,000 results, which can be printed at the end of the test or reprinted from a memory card. The device can detect up to seven drug classes: amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabis (THC), cocaine metabolite, methamphetamine, opiates and fentanyl. Here’s a step-by-step process of how the device works:
- Insert the test cartridge into the analyzer.
- Collect the oral fluid sample by a cheek swab.
- Insert the collection device into the test cartridge.
- Results in minutes.
Cutoff levels per drug class
Abbott Technology’s website shows the cutoff of each drug class in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). According to AdvanceStudy.org, which is a national pilot study funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ng/mL is a measurement which represents the concentration of a substance in a person’s system.
AdvanceStudy.org says the measurement is crucial for determining whether a drug is present and, critically, whether it exceeds the established cutoff level for a positive test.
According to Abbott Technology’s website, here’s the cutoff level (ng/mL) pertaining to the drug classes on their Oral Fluid Mobile Test System:
- Amphetamine: 50.
- Benzodiazepines: 20.
- Cannabis (THC): 25
- Cocaine: 30.
- Methamphetamine: 50.
- Opiates: 40.
- Fentanyl: 4.
Factors relating to drug test results include dosage, frequency of use, metabolism, time elapsed since last use, hydration levels, and the specific drug and metabolite, said AdvanceStudy.org.
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