One thing Uchenna Vincent likes to do is to help children, and that is one of the reasons she started Accurate Testing Services.

A former officer with the New Orleans Police Department, Vincent has worked with juveniles for a long time.

"I like working with juveniles," Vincent said.

Uchenna Vincent

Her company provides drug and paternity testing, and, according to Vincent, business has, unfortunately, been good.

"Parents are always asking about drug testing for their children," Vincent said. She said drugs are a big problem in the community, and stopping drug use is a good way to keep crime down. In order to buy drugs users need money, and that may lead to robbery, burglary and even violence, Vincent said.

Young people are not her only clients. She will also provide drug and alcohol testing for companies.

Vincent believes her company has one advantage over bigger drug testing companies - on-site testing. Vincent operates her business out of her home and goes to people's homes and businesses, to perform her testing. She said other companies like hers have clients come to their labs, which can lead to fraud.

"If there is a urine sample needed, the person can switch out the sample with a 'clean' one before they arrive at the lab," Vincent said.

Vincent has an arsenal of three tests to see if a person is using illegal drugs. There is the urine test and saliva and hair follicle tests. She said the hair test is the best, because traces of the drug remain in the hair follicles for 90 days. The saliva test, where the subject's mouth is swabbed, is also a favorite of Vincent, because it is done right on the spot and results are almost instantaneous.

"You can't argue with those results," Vincent said.

But she said some juveniles do argue with the test results if they come back positive.

"They will ask for a second test, which I will readily do. If that comes back positive, the kid usually says 'I only did it once,'" Vincent said.

Vincent said if a drug test is positive, she will sit down with the juvenile and counsel them on the dangers of drug use. She said she will also sit down and have a long talk with the parents.

"Some of the parents are in denial," Vincent said.

She does about 30 drug tests a week, and she said the most prevalent drug use she uncovers is ecstasy, which, she said, is very dangerous.

"Kids don't realize ecstasy can give someone a heart attack. It also leads to inappropriate behavior that leads to all sorts of problems when the kid comes off the drug," Vincent said.

She said she has seen a rise in the use of prescription drugs such as Xanax and Oxycodine and other pain killers. She said she is also seeing more juveniles using heroin.

"That's expensive. Where are they getting the money? That does lead to other crimes," Vincent said.

Vincent also tests for paternity. She makes the client submit genetic material for DNA testing, and the material is sent to a lab out of state for testing. Unlike the television show, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," where results are almost immediate, DNA testing takes time, about two weeks, Vincent said.

She said she does about six paternity tests a week, half men and half women. Surprisingly, some women try to con men into believing they are the father to get child support. Vincent said she has caught a couple of women for fraud.

"Most of the men are not sure, and some of the guys just don't want to pay child support," Vincent said.

Presenting the test results can be problematical for Vincent.

"I've had a couple of bad situations," she admitted. "People can get very angry."

But nobody can argue with the test results. Vincent said the results are notarized and hold up as evidence in a court of law. She also provides forms in case the baby has to change its surname because of a DNA paternity test.

Vincent said she had to get training to give the tests, but it is not difficult.

She added that her six years in the NOPD has given her a lot of experience in testing for drugs, and confronting juveniles about their drug problems.

In spring, she will have more training under her belt.

She is graduating from Southern University of New Orleans with a master's degree in criminal justice.