Crime fighters could soon have a new method to detect illegal drugs thanks to researchers in Italy. The team has succeeded in grafting an artificial receptor – capable of identifying a whole family of methamphetamine drugs rather than just one – onto a microscopic silicon springboard that flexes when the receptor hosts a relevant guest drug molecule. Show The new approach could be useful for tackling so-called designer drugs, in which minor modifications are made to an existing drug. While these are currently not illegal in many jurisdictions, moves are afoot to outlaw them. This will present a challenge for the authorities when it comes to identifying these substances on the street. While assays exist for the currently illicit substance, the same test may not be able to identify a related designer drug. Now a team led by Enrico Dalcanale of the University of Parma and Paolo Bergese of the University of Brescia has developed a sensor which responds to the portion of the methamphetamine molecule that is common to the entire family. The core of the sensor consists of a bowl-shaped supramolecular structure containing four phosphonate residues. This class of compound is termed a cavitand, and is capable of acting as a host to a variety of guest molecules, which bind non-covalently, such as through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. X-ray diffraction studies show that the cavity of the team’s tetraphosphonate cavitand specifically recognises+NH2–CH3 residues – the common structure of methamphetamine salts – and to a lesser extent +NH–CH3 , present in cocaine. The team used photochemical methods to graft the cavitand receptors onto the surface of a micrometre-scale silicon microcantilever. When a guest molecule binds to the receptor, an exchange of energy occurs at the surface of the cantilever causing it to deflect – movement that can be picked up and quantified by a laser. Using samples of drugs seized by police on the streets, the system was shown to respond to a number of methamphetamines and to cocaine, but not to substances that the drugs are often ‘cut’ with, such as caffeine or sugars. ‘We have demonstrated that it is possible to build a device which is capable of detecting the entire class of methamphetamines with extremely high selectivity in water,’ says Dalcanale, adding that the system could also be used for environmental monitoring of drugs in, for example, wastewater. Dermot Diamond, director of the National Centre for Sensor Research in Ireland, applauds the team’s achievement in successfully immobilising the receptor on the cantilever and for being able to distinguish the sample drugs from sugars. However, Diamond adds: ‘Detecting illicit drugs and their residues in wastewater is a very challenging proposition for a sensing device of the type they have produced. This is because the complexity of the same, and the range of potential interferents, goes way beyond what the authors have tested.' This article is reproduced with permission from Chemistry World. The article was first published on June 17. A urine drug test, or urinalysis, is a common way to find out if someone has recently used illegal drugs. You may need to take a urine test for an employer, sports team, or other reasons. After you take drugs, your body gets rid of the chemicals in those drugs. One way your body
flushes out these chemicals is through urine. Traces of drugs appear in your urine anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after you take them. Lab tests can detect these traces of drugs in your urine. The most common substances urine tests target are: You may need to take a urine test for illegal drugs in many different situations. Applying for a job. A potential employer might require a urine test before they hire you. Companies use urine tests to avoid hiring people who use illegal
substances. Drug use can link to lower productivity and employee morale. It may pose a higher risk of accidents or conflicts on the job. At your workplace. Some companies require workers to take regular or random urine tests throughout their employment. This is to make sure that employees don’t take illegal drugs after they’re hired. Industries that often test regularly include: Employers may also ask for a urine test if an employee behaves in a way suggesting they’re using illegal substances. This behavior can include: If an accident happens at your workplace, your employer may order a drug test for those who were involved. This helps determine whether the accident may have happened because of how drugs affected someone’s behavior. Sports teams. Many school-affiliated and professional sports teams test players for illegal drugs. These tests often look for
steroids and other substances that artificially improve athletic performance. They also test for mind-altering substances like marijuana and cocaine. Like employers, coaches and team managers want to identify players who have substance abuse issues. Medical treatment. A doctor might order a urine test if it can help with your treatment, such as
mental health care or addiction recovery. You can legally refuse a doctor’s request for a drug test if you’re not posing harm to yourself or others, or if you’re capable of clear thinking and judgment. Legal reasons. A judge may order a drug test as part of a legal case. Court-ordered drug tests are most often for drug-related charges and probation. Child custody and accident
cases may also involve drug testing, but this varies between states and regions. You can take a urine drug test at your workplace, a medical clinic, or any other site that can properly collect your urine sample. You may also take a urine test in a public restroom if you’re with a qualified collector, like a police officer. You’ll urinate into a plastic cup or another sterile container in
private. Many testing locations provide a bathroom without a working toilet or sink. This prevents people from filling the cup with water instead of urine. If there’s no sink, the testing site should provide hand sanitizer or washcloths. After giving your sample to the collector, a lab tests it. Results are usually available within a few days. Urine tests tell you if someone has been using illegal drugs
within a few days before testing. They don’t tell the whole story of a situation. Some drawbacks of urine drug testing include: False positives. Urine tests aren’t 100% accurate. Rarely, test results incorrectly show traces of drugs you didn't take. This can be due to foods you’ve eaten, lab errors, or over-the-counter medications. If you have a prescription for any medications, make sure you tell the collector and the lab. Limited time frame. Urine tests only show drug use within several days before collection. If you take a urine test too long after an accident or other event, then evidence of drug use is lost. Workplace culture. Some people choose not to work for employers that test for illegal drugs. They see it as an invasion of privacy. A positive drug test doesn’t necessarily mean drug use is affecting someone’s productivity. Can an air quality test detect drugs?Home Air Check can detect some of the solvents used in illegal drug production but many of these are common solvents that could be coming from other sources. However, it cannot detect the drug itself because most drugs are not volatile.
Are there sensors that can detect drugs?Portable sensors for drug and explosive detection. Westinghouse Electric is developing portable, hand-held sensors capable of detecting numerous drugs of abuse (cocaine, heroin, amphetamines) and explosives (trinitrotoluene, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, nitroglycerin).
Which technique is used to detect drugs?Based on our review, the best methods for point-of-care drug testing are handheld infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and ion mobility spectrometry; mass spectrometry is the current gold standard in forensic drug analysis.
How can I check the air quality in my home?How to test indoor air quality. Purchase an indoor air quality monitor.. Evaluate health symptoms.. Monitor carbon monoxide and radon levels.. Get an air purifier.. Call an air quality professional.. |
Can you test the air for drugs
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