Vaccines are available to anyone over the age of 12 who wants it in the New Zealand and soon available for those 5-12 years old along with booster shots for those who were vaccinated 6 months or longer ago. So why should we consider, call for and use COVID testing?

As the sole screening mechanism for COVID in real-time population management, PCR testing is not enough. Rapid antigen testing plays an integral, complementary role to PCR confirmatory testing. Regular testing with rapid results, multiple times a week, can greatly help prevent and control COVID outbreaks and avoid costly lockdowns and quarantines.

What a rapid antigen test does is identify antigens in a human sample by flowing that sample over a set of molecules that serve as probes because they can bind to the antigen of interest–if it’s in the sample.

Drugwise is audited and authorised to deliver its drug and alcohol testing services throughout all Covid alerts or lockdown levels since March 2020.

Rapid antigen tests (RAT) detect the presence of certain proteins of the Covid-19 virus in symptomatic patients using an immunoassay test principle.

Have people turned to illegal drugs to help get them through the COVID-19 pandemic?

I am very excited to share with you the attached study summary (Download) and the full report available on request (to ala@drugwise.nz ) of a recent oral-fluid device comparison by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US. This is a trully independent trial of  saliva drug test devices internationally recognised as used for drugged driving policing and may help you in YOUR choice.

Drug abuse among people over 65 year olds is a hidden and growing problem globally, international experts say, and worrying trends are emerging among New Zealand's older people too.

[QUOTE] My regret is that we embarked on a testing regime that would lead to the loss of a number of our best people because of their lifestyle choices. It is sad and disruptive..

Cannabis has been around since the dawn of time and has been used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. As discussions regarding the legalisation of cannabis continue in New Zealand, what impact could it have on our Industry?