Citation

Agius R, Nadulski T, Kahl HG, Dufaux B. Forensic Sci. Int. 2012; 215(1-3): 32-37.

Affiliation

Labor Krone, Siemensstr. 40, 32105 Bad Salzuflen, Germany. ragius@laborkrone.de

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.10.036

PMID

22093703

Abstract

In this paper we present the first assessment of the new German driving licence re-granting medical and psychological assessment (MPA) guidelines by comparing over 3500 urine samples tested under the old MPA cut-offs to over 5000 samples tested under the new MPA cut-offs. Since the enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) technology used previously was not sensitive enough to screen for drugs at such low concentrations, as suggested by the new MPA guidelines, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening kits were used to screen for the drugs of abuse at the new MPA cut-offs. The above comparison revealed significantly increased detection rates of drug use or exposure during the rehabilitation period as follows: 1.61, 2.33, 3.33, and 7 times higher for 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH), morphine, benzoylecgonine and amphetamine respectively. The present MPA guidelines seem to be more effective to detect non-abstinence from drugs of abuse and hence to detecting drivers who do not yet fulfil the MPA requirements to regain their revoked driving licence.

Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving; DUID; Ethanol impaired driving

Language: en