ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Aug. 14, 2019
/PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Intoximeters today announced
an agreement for Intoximeters to market
Abbott's SoToxaTM Mobile Test System – a handheld
oral fluid roadside testing solution that rapidly and reliably
detects recent drug use – alongside
Intoximeters' Alco-Sensor® brand breath
alcohol-testing products. This agreement will aid law enforcement
agencies in their efforts to reduce the rate of drugged driving,
which has become a serious road safety issue.[2]
Together, these technologies provide police with a robust set of
roadside-testing tools for the detection of alcohol on
Intoximeters' products and six drug classes on Abbott's SoToxa
including: amphetamine, benzodiazepines, cannabis (THC), cocaine,
methamphetamine, and opiates.
"We've heard law enforcement say that non-invasive, handheld
drug-detecting technology is needed immediately to combat the
growing epidemic of drug-impaired driving in the U.S.," said
Chris Scoggins, senior vice
president, Rapid Diagnostics, Abbott. "With SoToxa, we're bringing
a handheld drug-detecting solution to the roadside to help police
officers and civic leaders keep their roadways and communities
safe."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
reports that every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk driving
crashes, totaling more than 10,000 lives per year.[3] Furthermore,
a study issued in 2018 from the Governors Highway Safety
Association (GHSA) found 44 percent of drivers killed in crashes in
2016 who were tested for drug use had drugs in their system, which
was up from 28 percent a decade ago.[4]
"Intoximeters has long been about keeping roads safe, and this
agreement combines more than 70 years of expertise in
breath-alcohol testing with Abbott's proven handheld technology
that solves some of today's most urgent public health and
safety challenges," said Rankine Forrester, chief executive
officer, Intoximeters. "By making SoToxa available alongside the
Alco-Sensor suite of products, we're giving law enforcement
agencies an end-to-end solution as they grapple with the increase
of drugged drivers in their communities."
"As marijuana legalization gathers momentum in the U.S.,
legislators and law enforcement have an obligation to keep our
roads safe from the growing problem of drug impaired drivers," said
retired Vermont State Police
Lieutenant and former Drug Recognition Expert John Flannigan, who
now serves as principal at Flannigan Safety Consulting. "This
partnership gives law enforcement a true, handheld analyzer that
supplements officers' drug-recognition training backed by
real-world usage and numerous scientific studies."
Intoximeters will have exclusive distribution rights for SoToxa
in the United States.
About SoToxa
SoToxa™, formerly known as the Alere DDS®2 Mobile Test System, is a
portable system designed for rapid screening and detection of drugs
in oral fluid. SoToxa is able to generate test results in just five
minutes, indicating the presence of amphetamine, benzodiazepines,
cannabis (THC), cocaine, methamphetamine, and opiates. In addition,
the technology is lightweight, easy to use and built for the rigors
of the field. SoToxa is currently being used by law
enforcement agencies in countries around the world, including
Canada, Germany, Spain, the United
Kingdom, and the United
States, among others.
Oral fluid analysis has several advantages for roadside drug
testing. Oral fluid collection is non-invasive[5], relying on
a simple swab of the mouth, cheek, and gums to obtain the
sample. The sample specimen can be taken at the scene of a
traffic stop or crash and does not require same-sex observed
collection. It is difficult to adulterate the specimen, and
there is no requirement for a medical professional to draw blood,
eliminating transport time and costs.[6]
About Intoximeters
Since 1945, Intoximeters, Inc. has
been a leader in the field of breath alcohol testing, continually
pioneering and improving upon technology and industry standards.
Our instruments are relied upon by law enforcement, major workplace
testing organizations, and other testing industries in over 90
countries worldwide.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare
leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our
portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of
healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics,
medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our
103,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and
@AbbottGlobal.
[1] Third Way.
https://www.thirdway.org/infographic/timeline-of-state-marijuana-legalization-laws
[2] Governors Highway Safety Association. Drug-Impaired
Driving: Marijuana and Opioids Raise Critical Issues for States.
https://www.ghsa.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/GHSA_DrugImpairedDriving_FINAL.pdf
[3] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
[4] Governors Highway Safety Association. Drug-Impaired
Driving: A Guide for States, 2017 Update.
https://www.ghsa.org/resources/drugged-driving-2017
[5] Society of Forensic Toxicologists, Inc.
http://soft-tox.org/files/2018%20OF_FAQ_FINAL.pdf
[6] Society of Forensic Toxicologists, Inc.
http://soft-tox.org/files/2018%20OF_FAQ_FINAL.pdf
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SOURCE Abbott