This work was carried out with the use of a Beckman P/ACE 5500 equipped with either a single-wavelength UV detector or a photodiode array detector. The instrument had the capability of autoinjection in electrokinetic (voltage injection) or pressure mode. The instrument was under control of a Dell Optiflex GM 5100 PC running Beckman System GOLD Version 8.1 software or P/ACE Station software. Hardcopy output was provided by a Hewlett- Packard Laserjet 4MP or 5P. CZE was incorporated into screening procedures alongside conventional techniques such as EMIT screening and chromatographic procedures. Output from the CZE screen has become the first to be assessed in the process of deciding whether a case is positive or negative. Electropherograms from basic drug case fractions (electrokinetic injection) are clean and simple to interpret. Baselines are flat and migration parameters are very reproducible. Operating cost is very modest and waste material, consisting of small amounts of phosphate and borate buffer, is negligible. CZE promises to compete with established chromatographic techniques as the screen of choice of the forensic toxicologist. 9 figures and 7 references