Police1’s Spotlight articles introduce the products and services of a valued sponsor in their own words. This article profiles Visual Detection Systems, the company behind First Defense fentanyl detection wipes – a quick and simple tool for detecting the dangerous drug in the field.
Where did your company name originate from?
We manufacture products that visually detect fentanyl – so we use “visual detection” as part of the name Visual Detection Systems.
What was the inspiration behind starting your company?
We worked with a polymer chemist from the University of Akron who came up with a plant-based formula to detect fentanyl, which led to a product that can save lives.
What is your signature product and how does it work?
The First Defense fentanyl detection wipe is a plant-based wipe that can presumptively detect fentanyl, quickly, easily and effectively.
Why do you believe your products are essential to the police community?
This product was developed with first responders in mind and as the most critical users.
What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?
Developing a product that was effective and would be easy and inexpensive as a presumptive testing tool. It required many years of formulation and testing at police and sheriffs’ locations on actual street fentanyl.
What makes your company unique?
We are a small woman-owned company that has worked to develop a product that can save lives.
What do your customers like best about you and your products?
We stand behind our products, and we respond directly to end users.
What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder/local government community?
Every day we hear from the first responder community that the First Defense wipe is needed.
Is there any fun fact or trivia that you’d like to share with our users about you or your company?
Other than we are from a small town with two stoplights (Minerva, Ohio), we travel the entire U.S. to promote safety and support the first responder community.
What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives?
We have more to come as far as opioid detection systems.