CANTON, Mass., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avitar, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: - ), developer of the world's first on-site, oral test for drugs-of-abuse, today announced that David Greaves, Avitar vice president, will present at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Risk, Insurance, & Safety Management Conference on October 25, 2005 in San Antonio, Texas. Greaves' presentation will center on a case study detailing the implementation of Avitar's on-site instant ORALScreen drug testing solution at Save Mart, a large, West Coast supermarket chain. Save Mart operates 120 grocery stores in Northern and Central California.
The grocery and supermarket industry loses almost four percent of its annual revenues to inventory shrinkage, a problem exacerbated by high employee turnover. High employee turnover has been shown to double inventory shrinkage levels. Furthermore, retail industry studies show that 50 percent of product shrink is attributed to employees who use drugs. In a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Department of Health and Human Services 2004 study, 21 percent of supermarket workers reported using illicit drugs.
During his presentation, Greaves will detail how Save Mart's drug testing program reduced employee turnover, played a significant role in improving the employee pool and hiring practices, as well as provide compelling statistics about drug use in the supermarket industry.
WHO: David Greaves, executive vice president, Avitar Inc.
WHAT: "Save Mart: A Drug Testing Case Study"
WHEN: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 from 4:00 to 5.00 p.m.
WHERE: Food Marketing Institute's Risk, Insurance, & Safety
Management Conference
Plaza San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
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.
Company Contact: PR Contact:
Peter Cholakis Monica Pandolfi
Avitar Inc. SHIFT Communications
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IR Contact:
Lisa DeScenza
LaVoie Group