Avitar-Hosted Construction Site Safety and Drug Abuse Forum Filled to Capacity

Forum Highlights Importance of Drug Testing in Construction Sector 


CANTON, Mass., March 9  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Industry leaders representing large construction contractors, insurers, brokers, and labor unions gathered on February 27th near Boston, Massachusetts to attend the Construction Safety & Drug Abuse Executive Roundtable, hosted by Avitar, Inc. (OTC:AVRN.OB) (BULLETIN BOARD: AVRN.OB) .

  Roundtable participants included:
  * Perini Corp                 Roger Bruce, Corporate Safety Director
  * Gilbane Building Company    Tony O'Dea, Corporate Safety Manager
  * IMPACT, Iron Workers Union  Robert Banks, Eastern Director
  * The Facchina Group          Joseph J. Poliafico, Director Risk
                                Management and Human Resources
  * AON Risk Services           Glenn Narrow, Senior Risk Control Specialist



"Roundtable participants voiced agreement in three critical areas:  (1) the importance of random testing, (2) challenges associated with traditional urine testing, such as, sample adulteration and lack of convenience, and (3) the need to incorporate drug testing in all project labor agreements (PLAs)," commented Pete Phildius, Avitar's CEO.

Robert Banks of IMPACT / Iron Workers Union echoed these comments, "If you aren't random drug testing, then you aren't drug testing. Our union fully supports drug testing, and we have active programs in place to help educate our workers, contractors, and owners.  We also believe that oral fluid-based drug testing provides many advantages to our members and the construction industry."

Another panel member stated that accidents and other drug abuse related costs, including theft, quality of work, and turnover, cost 100x the cost of an effective drug testing program.

Both panelists and participants agreed that drug abuse among construction workers remains a serious, unresolved problem.  They further concluded that any organization which does not implement an effective drug testing program risks incurring significant, if not catastrophic liability.  Several speakers also commented on their recent successes in shifting to alternative testing methods, specifically on site oral fluid-based drug screening.

For additional information about the event including highlights, quotes from participants and video clips, please click on the following link: http://www.avitarinc.com/construction-forum.cfm

About Avitar

Avitar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets innovative and proprietary products.  Their field includes the oral fluid diagnostic market, the disease and clinical testing market, and customized polyurethane applications used in the wound dressing industry.  Avitar manufactures ORALscreen(R), the world's first non-invasive, rapid, onsite oral fluid test for drugs-of-abuse, as well as HYDRASORB(R), an absorbent topical dressing for moderate to heavy exudating wounds.  Avitar is also developing diagnostic strategies for disease and clinical testing in the estimated $25 billion in-vitro diagnostics market. Conditions targeted include influenza, diabetes, and pregnancy.  For more information, see Avitar's website at http://www.avitarinc.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement. This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties including the development and marketing of new applications and other risks that are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In view of such risks and uncertainties, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking statements.

  Company Contact:              PR Contact:
   Peter Cholakis                Maura Landry
   Avitar Inc.                   SHIFT Communications
   781-821-2440 x117             617-681-1229
          

DATASOURCE: Avitar, Inc.



CONTACT: Peter Cholakis of Avitar Inc., [phone], ext. 117,

; or Maura Landry of SHIFT Communications for Avitar

Inc., [phone],  



Web site:  http://www.avitarinc.com/ 

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