A team led by researchers at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom has developed a new, non-invasive test that’s able to detect cocaine use in a patient by analyzing a single fingerprint. Unlike existing tests, the new technique is able to determine whether the subject has ingested the drug, rather than just touched it.

Drug testing is a common practice in prisons, courts and numerous other law enforcement agencies, but existing methods have significant limitations, often requiring specialist staff and off-site analysis. While not quite ready for mass introduction, the newly-developed technique could make things significantly easier. It’s non-invasive, hygienic and impossible to fake, with the identity of the subject captured in the fingerprint itself.
via Gizmag