I REFER to S. Param’s letter “What protection for officers” (NST, June 5). I would like to thank Param for his concern for police personnel from the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) over safety precautions when conducting urine analysis and also enlightening us on the potential infectiousness of urine.

Under our standard operating procedure on urine analysis, it is a requirement for all NCID personnel who are carrying out this task to wear gloves. The men are instructed to take every precaution necessary to ensure all urine specimens are handled with care and in accordance with the SOP.

However, there might be some personnel who do not abide by the rules. This, of course, cannot be tolerated. The guilty ones will be reprimanded.

As for other personal protective equipment such as goggles and disinfecting liquids, it was found that these are not necessary as the task entails minimum contact with urine specimens. Personnel conducting urine analysis are trained to ensure that there is no spillage and that hygienic procedures are adhered to, including the use of gloves.

ACP KANG CHEZ CHIANG, Head of Narcotics Crime Investigation Department, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – June 16, 2009