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Air Force drug testing laboratory opens on Lackland

  • Published
  • By Maj. Travis Herbelin
  • Headquarters Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Officials with the Headquarters Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory, or HQ AFDTL, opened the doors of their new facility here June 30.

HQ AFDTL is the only forensic toxicology drug testing laboratory in the Air Force and one of only six such laboratories in the Department of Defense Drug Demand Reduction Program.

Previously, the laboratory was located on the southeast side of San Antonio at Brooks City-Base. But the impending closure of Brooks, mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, required a new home to be found for this one-of-a-kind, highly-specialized Air Force capability.

In surveying candidate sites, facility size was a critical factor since the laboratory's workload has increased 250 percent in the last three years, from just under 400,000 specimens per year prior to 2008 to 950,000 specimens starting in fiscal 2011.

In March 2008, then Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley directed that an existing building near Wilford Hall Medical Center become HQ AFDTL's new home. A joint venture between the Army and Air Force was undertaken in 2010, resulting in a $6.5 million renovation and outfitting of the facility, which also houses the 59th Medical Wing's Robotic Pharmacy.

"This facility is a technical state-of-the-art analytic lab providing a fitting home for the men and women of this remarkable squadron, whom I refer to as the 'quiet professionals'," said Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Mark Ediger, Air Force Medical Operations Agency commander. "We hear little about this lab day-to-day because they do their exacting work so well. They are among many unsung heroes in our Air Force whose performance is critical to the readiness and surety of the world's greatest Air Force."

The new laboratory was designed, built and outfitted on schedule, $3.5 million under budget, and was moved and brought back online one month ahead of schedule, increasing its footprint from 15,000 square feet in its old location to 22,000 square feet in the new building. HQ AFDTL is set to convey its old space at Brooks City-Base two months ahead of the Sept. 31, 2011, deadline mandated by 2005 BRAC legislation.

The laboratory tests specimens collected from all Air Force, National Guard and selected U.S. Army members stationed worldwide. The mission of the laboratory staff is to detect and deter illicit drug use through drug testing and to support associated administrative and judicial proceedings by preparing drug testing reports and providing expert witness testimony.

"This project has been the closest thing I have ever experienced to building an airplane in the air with passengers on board while flight attendants serve coffee," said Lt. Col. Kabrena Rodda, HQ AFDTL commander. "My staff and the construction and outfitting team have worked incredibly hard to get the Air Force's only forensic toxicology drug testing laboratory renovated, moved and operational for our Air Force, National Guard, and Army customers. The results, I believe, speak for themselves."