Schools, employers and families concerned that their charges might be exposed to lead or be using a variety of drugs (including amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, PCP, marijuana or a range of anabolic steroids and their metabolites) catapulted the diagnostic drug abuse and health test kits of Confirm Biosciences to inclusion on the Inc. 500 fastest growing privately held companies last year. It was gratifying to Zeynep Ilgaz, 35, who founded Confirm Biosciences in her San Diego garage six years ago.

As president and chief executive, she continues to grow business and manage national and international relationships for the medical device company’s products, which are available on Amazon and via such retailers as Walgreens, CVS and Kmart. Confirm Biosciences’ multi-credentialed laboratory can analyze 1,800 tests daily.

Ilgaz is an adviser to the National Institutes of Health commercialization assistance program and is a participant in educational and entrepreneurial programs of SDSU, UCSD, High Tech High and the San Diego Unified School District. She has initiated a corporate giving program whose beneficiaries include The Alpha Project for the Homeless, The McAlister Institute, San Diego Youth and Community Services, Teen Challenge International and Volunteers of America’s Alcohol and Drug Services Center.