Description
The QuickScreenª Pro Multi Drug Screening Test is a rapid, self-timed, qualitative immunoassay for the detection of drugs of abuse in urine. The cutoff concentrations for this test are Methamphetamine at 500 ng/mL, Amphetamine at 1000 ng/mL, THC metabolite (THCA) at 50 ng/mL, Cocaine metabolite (Benzoylecgonine) at 300 ng/mL and Opiates at 300 ng/mL. This assay is intended for professional use. This test provides only a preliminary test result. A more specific alternate testing method must be used in order to obtain a confirmed analytical result. Gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is the preferred confirmatory method. Other chemical confirmation methods are available. Clinical consideration and professional judgment should be applied to any drug of abuse test result, particularly when preliminary positive results are observed.
Methamphetamine (MET), Amphetamine (AMP) and their metabolites are central nervous system stimulants whose pharmacological properties include alertness, wakefulness, increased energy, reduced hunger and an overall feeling of well being. Large doses and extended usage can result in higher tolerance levels and physiological dependency. Both d and l forms of Amphetamine and the (_) form of Methamphetamine are controlled substances. 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is generally accepted to be the principle active component in marijuana and hashish, although other cannabinoids are likely to contribute to their physiological activity. THC is rapidly absorbed by inhalation and by the gastrointestinal tract, and is almost completely metabolized. Its predominant metabolite, 11-Nor-_9-THC-9- Car-boxylic Acid, or THCA, is found in the plasma, feces and urine along with other compounds. Very low concentrations of THC may be detected in urine during the initial several hours, but THCA persists in urine at a detectable concentration for many days after smoking. Cocaine (COC) is an alkaloid present in coca leaves (Erythyroxine coca) whose pharmacological properties include alertness, wakefulness, increased energy and an overall feeling of euphoria. Cocaine has been used medicinally as a local anesthetic, however, its addictive properties have minimized its modern value as an anesthetic. Elimination of cocaine is predominantly controlled by its biotransformation. It is almost completely metabolized to Benzoylecgonine. Very low concentrations of Cocaine may be detected in urine during the initial several hours, but Benzoylecgonine persists in urine at detectable concentrations for 48 hrs. Opiates (OPI) are addictive, narcotic pain-relieving drugs derived from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). An opiate is any natural or synthetic drug that has morphine-like pharmacological actions. Opiates include Morphine, Heroin, Codeine and Nalorphine. Urine-based screening tests for drugs of abuse range from complex analytical procedures to simple immunoassay tests. The sensitivity and rapidity of the immunoassay have made them the most accepted method of preliminary screening for drugs of abuse in urine. This allows the laboratory to eliminate the large number of negative specimens and focus on the smaller number of initially positive samples.
The QuickScreenª Pro Multi-Drug Screening Test is a competitive immunoassay that is used to screen for the presence of drugs of abuse in urine. It is a chromatographic absorbent device in which drugs or drug metabolites in a sample compete with drug / protein conjugate immobilized on a porous membrane for a limited number of antibody /dye conjugate binding sites. The test device employs a unique combination of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to selectively identify drugs of abuse in urine with a high degree of confidence. The test device also contains a Òself-timerÓ that indicates when results are ready to be interpreted. In the procedure, the absorbent end of the test device is inserted into the urine sample. The urine is absorbed into the device by capillary action, mixes with the antibody / dye conjugate, and flows across the pre-coated membrane. When sample drug levels are below the target cutoff (the detection sensitivity of the test), antibody / dye conjugate binds to the drug / protein conjugate immobilized in the Test Region (T) of the device. This produces a colored Test Band that, regardless of its intensity, indicates a negative result. When sample drug levels are at or above the target cutoff, the free drug in the sample binds to the antibody / dye conjugate, preventing the antibody / dye conjugate from binding to the drug / protein conjugate immobilized in the Test Region (T) of the device. This prevents the development of a distinct colored band, indicating a potentially positive sample. In either case, a colored Control Band is produced in the Control Region (C) by a non-specific antibody-dye / conjugate reaction. This band serves as a built-in quality control device, demonstrating antibody recognition and reactivity, as well
as confirming that the test is complete.
