Cozart

Source: Stock Market Digital

Date :1/3/2008 11:33:22 AM

Helping to create safer working environments Dene Baldwin explains to ExecUK why the market for drug testing devices is expanding and how Cozart’s technology is revolutionising the market

Written by Lucy Mowatt and Produced by Kiron Chavda

Established in 1994 by Dr Chris Hand and Philip Hand, Cozart has grown to become a company focusing on more than just research and development; it is now a company offering manufacturing, sales, marketing, distribution and a testing service to its customers. It has subsidiaries in Spain, Italy and Sweden, while its head office is in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Having worked for Cozart for 13 years, Dene Baldwin is the company’s technical director and has many years experience in the immunodiagnostic industry; he now oversees all activities at Cozart that need a lab’ coat, such as R&D, manufacturing and the analytical testing laboratories.

The company has developed a number of industry leading technologies. The Cozart® RapiScan was developed in 1999 and is capable of performing saliva-based drugs testing for traces of all major classes of drug, including heroin, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and methadone. The test can give a result in three minutes for heroin and cocaine and offers numerous advantages over traditional urine testing.

Dene Baldwin points out, “We’re in the fortunate position of people talking about ‘doing a Cozart test’ or a ‘RapiScan test’. It’s something that has built up not only in the UK, but internationally as well, including Australia.” This has been accompanied by a focused marketing strategy, which specifically targets potential customers rather than a general market.

“We attend police trade shows, sponsor events within a certain healthcare region and get people together to talk about the issues at hand,” Mr Baldwin explains. “We’re focused on getting the right product to the right end customer.”

The Cozart® DDS is the most recent drug testing development to hit the market, and uses the very latest technology.

This product also uses a saliva sample and can deliver a result in 90 seconds for heroin and cocaine. Speed and ease of use is an essential requirement for roadside testing, which is especially prominent in Australia.

Blue chip customers

Cozart’s customers operate in numerous industries around the globe. Not only are the UK Forensic Science Service and Home Office customers (since 1996 and 2001 respectively), but Emirates Airlines also use the technology and services. Other customers include various coal mines in Australia, diamond mines in South Africa and forensic teams across Europe and as far away as Malaysia. Mr Baldwin explains that there is also a large market for roadside drug testing in Croatia, Italy and Spain which is rapidly expanding throughout Europe.

The Home Office has been using the Cozart® RapiScan as part of its Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) since the initial pilots in 2001. Within this programme they test for traces of class A drugs in the parts per billion range, which Dene Baldwin explains, “Is the equivalent of dissolving two paracetamol into an Olympic sized swimming pool.” In areas where the Cozart® RapiScan has been used in conjunction with the Drug Interventions Programme, the crime rate is dropping significantly; according to Home Office figures drug related crime has fallen by 26 percent. Those caught committing a crime in these areas will be tested within a custody suite; should the test have a positive result a drug related motive can potentially be identified. If this is the case, then a programme of rehabilitation can be drawn up in an attempt to remove the motivation and hence reduce the level of crime.

Cozart’s technology is also helping in the process of drug testing in rehabilitation clinics. Collecting a urine sample has associated difficulties; it has to be observed to ensure that it is not tampered with and therefore there are issues around gender and privacy. These are all negated by using a simple saliva sample.

Writing policy

Cozart acquired Nemesis Scientific, based in Wakefield, early in 2007. Nemesis helps customers to implement drug testing policies and programmes. Mr Baldwin explains, “Our primary focus within the workplace is both enabling recovering problem users to hold down jobs as well as protecting working environments from the hazards that drugs and alcohol can create. We offer a complete range of services that include policy advice, education, employee assistance, administrative support and the full range of services necessary for testing programmes.”

In certain industries there is also an overlap between health & safety and the companies insurance. By carrying out a drug and alcohol test immediately after a workplace accident, it can remove the possibility of liability on the employees’ part and ensure that insurance companies are satisfied that there are reduced risks. This can yield cost savings as well as health and safety benefits.

Worldwide facilities

Cozart has recently been working closely with Philips Electronics to develop a new generation of biosensor systems for drug abuse detection. In January 2006, the two companies started working together towards developing a magnetic biosensor for use in a handheld device. “Philips has their expertise in electronics and we have ours in drugs testing; the marrying of these complementary skills was very positive for both companies,” Mr Baldwin explains. The research project was followed up in June 2007 with a commercialisation agreement, which will result in the new product hitting the market in mid 2009.

The Abingdon site employs 90 highly skilled members of staff, who are all encouraged to pursue additional qualifications. “We want our scientists to keep writing papers, attending meetings and conferences and we also encourage everyone to take further education where possible. One employee has been with us six years now and has just completed a PhD,” Dene Baldwin explains. ‘’We also have good links with Oxford Brooks University and Sheffield Hallam and take on one or two students each year as part of their industrial placement.’’

Cozart are focussed on health & safety standards with dedicated staff charged with overseeing that procedures are implemented. Cozart have funded further study too, including NEBOSH qualifications; linked into this the company is aiming to achieve the ISO:14001 certification in the near future.

The company has an international presence with offices in Sweden and Italy. Cozart’s facility in Spain, Spinreact S.A.U, has its own R&D, production and assembly capabilities for a wide range of diagnostic reagents. Sales of these products together with the Cozart drug tests are handled by a distribution network, particularly in other Spanish-speaking countries, including those in South America and Mexico. Dene Baldwin says, “Having Spinreact as part of the group provides us with additional R&D and manufacturing resources.”

The company’s turnover for 2007 is £16.9 million, which represents a 52 percent increase on 2006 figures. This is expected to increase again for 2008, aided by the increase in roadside and workplace drug placing testing.