The development and validation of screening test methods for the presumptive detection of New Psychoactive Substances
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2022
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The growing number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) necessitates the need to identify these drugs under any circumstance. Rapid, on-site presumptive tests are integral to identifying unknown substances in case work, healthcare settings, and harm reduction situations. There are currently a wide variety of colour tests available for the identification of traditional illicit drugs (e.g. cocaine, amphetamines), however, specific tests for the detection of NPS are limited. The inability of current presumptive test methods to selectively identify the large variety of NPS indicates the need for the development of such techniques that can provide information about the presence of these drugs in unknown materials. This research has developed a thoroughly validated colour test method utilising 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone that is capable of selectively identifying NBOMe compounds, with significant potential implications for application in case work settings. This test method was then further investigated to improve the portability and the discrimination of the colour change results. Mobile phone applications were assessed for their ability to utilise the inbuilt camera to record RGB values which may be attributed to a drug, drug class, and even a concentration range. Statistical analysis of the RGB values was completed to further determine the applicability of this method. Promising results indicate that NBOMe analogues can be distinguished from other illicit compounds. The further optimisation of the predictive model would be of benefit for the extension of this study. The translation of the NBOMe test, along with three other colour test methods for the detection of synthetic cathinones (neocuproine-copper reagent), piperazines (1,2-naphthoquinone-5-sulphonate reagent), and fentanyl analogues (naphthoquinone reagents), to paper-based systems was assessed for ease of portability and the potential for development of a multiplexed device. The combination of these tests, and therefore their results combined into a single device, would assist in the identification process of a range of NPS without the need for multiple test kits. A proof-of-concept study was carried out to assess the possible visualisation of NBOMe compounds in oral fluid samples. The addition of colour test reagents to spiked oral fluid samples, or the inclusion of a paper chromatographic method, demonstrated the ability to detect NBOMe compounds. While there is still optimisation required, these methods showed great potential to be used in the presumptive identification of NPS and in particular, NBOMe analogues. This research demonstrates the promise of simple, affordable, and rapid methods to be utilised as on-site testing devices for NPS.
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