The total capital and integration cost for 60 devices was about $250,000, Koos said.

Much of the data collected and stored on the device stays there until a testing crew member can transmit it to a central database, usually via an analog phone modem, Koos said. Because many of the locations for gathering samples are in the basements of concrete stadiums, it is hard to find a good cellular signal to transmit the data.

"The communications portion of the project is a huge challenge," Koos said, although Drug Free Sport is committed to using internal radios to transmit data whenever possible.

Because of privacy and accuracy concerns, security "is a big issue, obviously," Koos added, and Drug Free Sport has never had a security breach. The devices provide several levels of password protection and rely on data encryption, he said.

Uryasz said his crews also hope to begin using voice functions with the handhelds, so that members of testing crews at large venues can be in constant communication with one another.