CANTON, Mass., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avitar (Amex: - ) today announced that Keymark Corporation has abandoned urine-based drug testing and is using Avitar's ORALScreen DRUGOMETER for pre-employment and random drug testing. Keymark is one of the largest independent suppliers of premium extruded aluminum shapes in the United States.
"The manufacturing sector has a significant employee drug use problem," stated Peter P. Phildius, Chairman and CEO of Avitar. "We believe that oral fluid-based drug testing is an important tool for safety managers at manufacturing companies, to drastically cut down on the number of employees who use drugs. We are encouraged that companies like Keymark are taking proactive steps to address the problem."
The manufacturing sector is particularly vulnerable to employee drug use, which can directly impact product quality, accident rates, workplace violence, and employee retention. Manufacturing sectors that currently benefit from Avitar's products include: automotive parts, cabinetry, factory automation, food products, garden equipment, and water tanks. The manufacturing industry traditionally relies on the 18-34 year-old age bracket for employees, and government research (DHHS) shows that same age group uses drugs more often than other age groups. In addition, the manufacturing industry is largely made up of small businesses and statistics released by the U.S. Government indicate that 60% of drug users are employed by small businesses.
Before switching to oral fluid-based on-site drug screening, Keymark Corporation previously utilized urine laboratory-based drug testing. The Company suspected many of its employees were using urine adulteration products to assure their tests would be negative. In addition, Keymark had to compensate employees for the time it took to take the test. Complicated program administration alone was enough to cause Keymark to re-evaluate their situation.
"We spent far too much time making sure that employees showed up for their tests," commented Robert Rivenburgh, Human Resources Manager for Keymark. "Arranging drug tests for prospective employees was another hassle that held up the hiring process. With Avitar's DRUGOMETER, we simply administer the test on-site and we have the results in less than 15 minutes. This technique also greatly reduces the chances that employees or prospective employees will try to beat the tests using products purchased over the Internet. Our business is dedicated to providing high quality products," continued Rivenburgh. "Our competitive advantage depends on our ability to give our customers superior aluminum extruded shapes. Aluminum extrusion can be a dangerous job, so we certainly don't want to employ workers who are using drugs. It would jeopardize the safety of employees and the quality of our products."
About Avitar
Avitar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets innovative and proprietary products. Their field includes the oral fluid diagnostic market, the disease and clinical testing market, and customized polyurethane applications used in the wound dressing industry. Avitar manufactures ORALscreen®, the world's first non-invasive, rapid, onsite oral fluid test for drugs-of-abuse, as well as HYDRASORB®, an absorbent topical dressing for moderate to heavy exudating wounds. Avitar is also developing diagnostic strategies for disease and clinical testing in the estimated $25 billion in-vitro diagnostics market. Conditions targeted include influenza, diabetes, and pregnancy. For more information, see Avitar's website at https://avitarinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement. This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties including the development and marketing of new applications and other risks that are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In view of such risks and uncertainties, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking statements.
Company Contact: PR Contact: Peter Cholakis Monica Pandolfi Avitar Inc. SHIFT Communications x117 IR Contact: Lisa DeScenza LaVoie Group
