Drugs, Technology and the Coming Bio-Revolution

Last week, as part of my company's investment work in the health care industry, I sat through a marketing pitch from a Chinese manufacturer of low-cost and disposable drug tests, many of which deliver results in mere seconds. They ranged from the familiar home pregnancy tests to sophisticated multi-panel urine screens (for narcotics) -- and even included a mouth swab for measuring blood-alcohol levels, the kind you'll soon be scooping out of a bowl at your favorite bar to check your ability to drive before heading home.

Continue reading this week's New Rules column at WPR.

Comments

[Ted O'Connor]

Drug screen testing often results in people losing jobs, awards, promotions, parole status, etc. Therefore there is serious liability attached to the almost certain lawsuits that follow. Even if the Test Kit itself is solid and reliable the human element (procedures, chain of evidence errors) can pull the Kit manufacturer into the litigation. Just a word of caution. I think the Navy had a real mess back under Zumwalt (?). Discharged over 5,000 folks and then had the process challenged in court. Navy ended up having to offer everyone a chance to get their job back or receive an Honorable Discharge.

[Patrick O'Connor]

Know you are not a baseball fan but thought you might be interested in stat guru Bill James recently stated thoughts on the future view of our era's juicers.

http://www.actapublications.com/images/small/PressReleases/Cooperstownandthe%27Roids_F2.pdf

[Elmer Humes]

As usual you continue to provide new insights expanding our perspective. New Pharma is accelerating changes just like electronic technology enabling behaviors beyond our imagination. The ungoing challange will continue to be balancing good versus evil but well worth our effort. Keep it going!

[Tom Barnett]

The small stuff (like this company) is used to screen out non-users and trigger deeper tests of suspected ones. Short form: this sort of thing will never be the final word on serious penalties.