Table 1:
Operational Characteristics of 16 Drug Checking Services in North America, 2022
| Characteristics | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Types of samples tested (select all that apply) | ||
| i. Solids | 16 | 100.0 |
| Powders | 16 | 100.0 |
| Crystals | 15 | 93.8 |
| Pills | 14 | 87.5 |
| ii. Liquids | 11 | 68.8 |
| Liquid drug solutions | 10 | 62.5 |
| Urine | 2 | 12.5 |
| Blood | 1 | 6.3 |
| Wastewater | 1 | 6.3 |
| iii. Drug paraphernalia | 14 | 87.5 |
| Empty drug bags/capsules | 14 | 87.5 |
| Used cookers, cottons, other injection paraphernalia | 11 | 68.8 |
| Smoking paraphernalia (stems, pipes) | 8 | 50.0 |
| Used syringes | 7 | 43.8 |
| Snorting paraphernalia (straws, etc.) | 6 | 37.5 |
| Vape pods | 1 | 6.3 |
| Sample collection methods | ||
| In-person drop off at testing location | 13 | 81.3 |
| Collected through existing services and outreach | 10 | 62.5 |
| Collection boxes | 3 | 18.8 |
| 3 | 18.8 | |
| Testing location | ||
| Fixed-site only | 9 | 56.3 |
| Fixed and mobile | 5 | 31.3 |
| Mobile only | 1 | 6.3 |
| Drug checking services offered | ||
| i. Self-testing kits distributed | 10 | 62.5 |
| Fentanyl Test Strips | 10 | 62.5 |
| Benzodiazepine test strips | 3 | 18.8 |
| Colorimetric/Reagent test kits | 1 | 6.3 |
| ii. On site testing | 14 | 87.5 |
| Fentanyl Immunoassay Test Strips | 14 | 87.5 |
| Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy: FT-IR | 10 | 62.5 |
| Reagent Testing | 4 | 25.0 |
| Benzodiazepine Immunoassay Test Strips | 4 | 25.0 |
| Raman Spectroscopy | 2 | 12.5 |
| Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry: PSMS | 1 | 6.3 |
| iii. Off-site testing | 10 | 62.5 |
| Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry: GCMS | 7 | 43.8 |
| Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry: LCMS | 5 | 31.3 |
| Reagent Testing | 1 | 6.3 |
| High Performance Liquid Chromatography: HPLC | 1 | 6.3 |
| Paper spray mass spectrometry: PSMS | 1 | 6.3 |
| Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: NMR | 1 | 6.3 |
| iv. Distributed model, multiple community locations with offsite DCS | 2 | 12.5 |
| v. Music Festival-based testing | 1 | 6.3 |