By Marina Esplin-Jones Widespread drug testing in the community would likely place a strain on the only laboratory in Bermuda equipped to analyse urine samples for illegal substances. And the cost could run as high as $100 to $300 a person.

The Bermuda Electric Light Company last month became the first to implement drug testing in the workplace. It estimated that the scheme would cost several thousand dollars a year.

Meanwhile, Government is awaiting the outcome of a Government-appointed board of inquiry into the recent soccer drugs scandal before possibly introducing drug testing of all athletes on the domestic level.

And the National Drug Commission recently announced it was going to recommend testing students suspected of drug use.

NDC chairman Mr. Mansfield Brock said he had no idea how much drug testing with cause in schools would cost because he didn't know the extent of the problem.

But Belco estimated the cost of its drug testing scheme to be about $100 an employee.

And Youth and Sports Minister the Hon. Pam Gordon said testing by sporting bodies could cost anywhere from $10 to $300 depending on the method.

Belco Human Resources manager Mr. Ron Lucas said it would cost his company $20 to have its private doctor take a urine specimen from an employee; and $20 for an initial screening by the Government analyst at the laboratory.

And if the result is positive, it would cost a further $50 for a "confirmation screening''.

"It's a very scientific test,'' he said.

Mr. Lucas said the company planned to cause test around 40 workers a year in safety-sensitive work areas.

He said Government analyst Dr. Alan Young had said the lab would be able to cope with the additional work, however, it could be a problem if the volume of urine screenings increased any more.

"They would need more staff,'' he said.

Dr. Young confirmed his lab was the only one equipped to test urine for drugs and he was the only analyst able to do it.

He added that urine testing was the most widely used method for detecting drug use.

Ms Gordon, who announced in the House of Assembly last month that Government intended bringing in drug testing for all athletes taking part at the domestic level, said that apart from urine testing, modern technology entailing hair strand and saliva testing were other methods of drug testing being considered.

"It could cost $10, $100 or up to $300,'' she said. "It depends how complex it gets.'' She said she was awaiting the recommendations from the inquiry headed by Sir John Sharpe before proceeding with any drug testing scheme.

She noted that although the Bermuda Olympic Association was tasked with testing athletes for banned substances, heroin and cocaine were on that list but marijuana was not.

It was important athletes were tested for all drugs and the tests were carried out by accredited facilities, she said. And the different sporting bodies would also have to be in agreement with the scheme.