Color spot test as a presumptive tool for the rapid detection of synthetic cathinones

Philp, M; Shimmon, R; Tahtouh, M; Fu, S

Color spot test as a presumptive tool for the rapid detection of synthetic cathinones

Philp, M

Shimmon, R

Tahtouh, M Fu, S

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2018, 2018 (132)
Issue Date:: 2018-02-05

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Philp, M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6308-1635	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Shimmon, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8763-991X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Tahtouh, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fu, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6238-3612	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-31T19:07:13Z
dc.date.issued	2018-02-05	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2018, 2018 (132)	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1940-087X	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/132928
dc.description.abstract	© 2018 Journal of Visualized Experiments. Synthetic cathinones are a large class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) that are increasingly prevalent in drug seizures made by law enforcement and other border protection agencies globally. Color testing is a presumptive identification technique indicating the presence or absence of a particular drug class using rapid and uncomplicated chemical methods. Owing to their relatively recent emergence, a color test for the specific identification of synthetic cathinones is not currently available. In this study, we introduce a protocol for the presumptive identification of synthetic cathinones, employing three aqueous reagent solutions: copper(II) nitrate, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine) and sodium acetate. Small pin-head sized amounts (approximately 0.1-0.2 mg) of the suspected drugs are added to the wells of a porcelain spot plate, and each reagent is then added dropwise sequentially before heating on a hotplate. A color change from very light blue to yellow-orange after 10 min indicates the likely presence of synthetic cathinones. The highly stable and specific test reagent has the potential for use in the presumptive screening of unknown samples for synthetic cathinones in a forensic laboratory. However, the nuisance of an added heating step for the color change result limits the test to laboratory application and decreases the likelihood of an easy translation to field testing.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Visualized Experiments	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3791/57045	en_US
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Alkaloids	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Central Nervous System Stimulants	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Colorimetry	en_US
dc.title	Color spot test as a presumptive tool for the rapid detection of synthetic cathinones	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	132	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	2018	en_US
utslib.for	0301 Analytical Chemistry	en_US
utslib.for	0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology	en_US
utslib.for	1701 Psychology	en_US
utslib.for	1702 Cognitive Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CCET - Centre for Clean Energy Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CFS - Centre for Forensic Science
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.issue	132	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	2018	en_US

Abstract:

© 2018 Journal of Visualized Experiments. Synthetic cathinones are a large class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) that are increasingly prevalent in drug seizures made by law enforcement and other border protection agencies globally. Color testing is a presumptive identification technique indicating the presence or absence of a particular drug class using rapid and uncomplicated chemical methods. Owing to their relatively recent emergence, a color test for the specific identification of synthetic cathinones is not currently available. In this study, we introduce a protocol for the presumptive identification of synthetic cathinones, employing three aqueous reagent solutions: copper(II) nitrate, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine) and sodium acetate. Small pin-head sized amounts (approximately 0.1-0.2 mg) of the suspected drugs are added to the wells of a porcelain spot plate, and each reagent is then added dropwise sequentially before heating on a hotplate. A color change from very light blue to yellow-orange after 10 min indicates the likely presence of synthetic cathinones. The highly stable and specific test reagent has the potential for use in the presumptive screening of unknown samples for synthetic cathinones in a forensic laboratory. However, the nuisance of an added heating step for the color change result limits the test to laboratory application and decreases the likelihood of an easy translation to field testing.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/132928