Leading drug testing agencies open NZ laboratory

Driven by the growing demand for drugs of abuse testing solutions in Australasia, two world leading drug testing agencies have joined forces to open a state-of-the-art laboratory in New Zealand.

The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) and Omega Laboratories, Inc. will open a new Auckland based laboratory later this year – TDDA Omega Laboratory Services. It will offer drug testing services including hair, oral fluid (saliva), and urine testing, as well as testing program management services globally.

The laboratory will incorporate the industry expertise of New Zealand based TDDA, Australasia’s complete solution provider for workplace drug policy, education and testing needs, and the abilities of US-based Omega Laboratories, the leading provider of hair and oral fluid (saliva) specimen testing. The partnership will benefit companies worldwide by offering a unified and streamlined approach to implementing drug testing programs. 

TDDA also offers the most robust collection network in the Australasian region and Omega brings technological expertise to the partnership, with advanced online reporting and an online multi-language custody and control form systems.  

Kirk Hardy, CEO, TDDA says, “The last few years have seen tremendous growth in the drug testing industry worldwide. This partnership with Omega Laboratories offers employers in Australasia the benefit of having the fastest turnaround time in the industry in the region.   

"TDDA's philosophy is about creating drug free environments and helping make not only the workplace but also the community in general a safer place to live. The new laboratory is another step towards offering our clients the most professional and efficient service that we can," Kirk says.  

Omega Laboratories’ CEO Bill Corl says, “We are confident that pairing Omega’s technology with TDDA’s expertise will greatly benefit the growing global drug testing market, while maintaining the quality and efficiency benefits that come from working with two of the most trusted names in drug testing." 

The new laboratory is headed by Dr Paul Fitzmaurice and will offer state-of-the-art drug testing services, as well as research testing methods to address the ever-increasing diversity of synthetic drugs that are flooding into the community.  The laboratory testing methods will be updated regularly to ensure they keep pace with the illicit drug developments.  Testing will also include an extended pain management panel that includes the majority of opioid medications that have significant abuse and addiction potential.

Dr Fitzmaurice, who has a PhD in Toxicology, has more than 20 years experience in the industry, most recently working for the New Zealand Government owned The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), including managing the Workplace Drug Testing programme as part of his role.

This co-operative laboratory has been specifically designed to provide faster delivery options for clients in Australasia while maintaining the consistent quality that Omega and TDDA have become known for.  

Hair testing will be used to detect lifestyle drug usage with its longer detection period, while urine and oral fluid (saliva) testing will be used to detect recent usage. This means that clients will now have access to the most accurate testing options to address their needs and help create a safer workplace.