A group of researchers from Sweden have provided further evidence that illegal drugs can be detected in the breath, opening up the possibility of a roadside breathalyzer test to detect substances such as cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.
Using a simple, commercially available breath sampler, the researchers have successfully identified a range of 12 substances in the breath of 40 patients recruited from a drug emergency clinic in Stockholm.
Their findings have been published today, 26 April, in IOP Publishing’s Journal of Breath Research.
Blood, urine and saliva are the most popular methods for detecting illegal drugs and are already used by law enforcement in a number of countries; however, exhaled breath is seen as a promising alternative as it’s easier to collect, non-invasive, less prone to adulteration and advantageous when location becomes an obstacle, such as at the roadside.
Exhaled breath contains very small particles that carry non-volatile substances from the airway lining fluid. Any compound that has been inhaled, or is present in the blood, may contaminate this fluid and pass into the breath when the airways open. The compounds will then be exhaled and can subsequently be detected.
In this study, researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm collected breath, blood plasma and urine samples from 47 patients (38 males, 9 females) who had taken drugs in the previous 24 hours and were recovering at a drug addiction emergency clinic.
Interviews were also undertaken with each patient to assess their history of drug use.
The breath samples were taken using a commercially available sampling device – SensAbues – and then analysed using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.
The portable sampling device consists of a mouth piece and a micro-particle filter. When a patient breathes into the mouth piece, saliva and larger particles are separated from the micro-particles that need to be measured.
The micro-particles are able to pass through and deposit onto a filter, which can then be sealed and stored ready for analysis. Breath samples were analysed for twelve substances.
Alprazolam and benzoylecgonine were detected in exhaled breath for the first time, whereas for methadone, amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, morphine, 6-acetylmorphine, tetrahydrocannabinol, buprenorphine, diazepam and oxazepam, the results confirmed previous observations.
“Considering the samples were taken 24 hours after the intake of drugs, we were surprised to find that there was still high detectability for most drugs,” said lead author of the study Professor Olof Beck.
The Latest Bing News on:
Roadside drug testing
- Young moped rider arrested for drug use and no licenceon May 12, 2024 at 8:21 am
A moped rider was arrested in Beaconsfield after failing a roadside drug test and carrying a passenger on a provisional licence.
- Marijuana legalization, trucking, and the future of drug testingon May 9, 2024 at 2:33 pm
Marijuana legalization, or at least decriminalization, is picking up steam. Further moves could reshape the future of drug testing in trucking altogether.
- The science behind roadside THC testing and diving into SGI’s zero-tolerance policyon May 9, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Some cannabis users in Saskatchewan have been concerned about possibly testing positive if pulled over by police while driving and given a roadside drug test, even though they're not impaired. People ...
- Police powerless to test drivers for prescription drugson May 9, 2024 at 12:29 am
Drivers high on painkillers and prescription drugs are going undetected on NSW roads — with police powerless to immediately test for their presence.
- Limerick colleges highlight dangers of drug-drivingon May 8, 2024 at 3:36 pm
Emily Rosenkranz, student welfare officer, UL told the Limerick Leader: “We want students to be aware that depending on the substance and the person, drugs can last in your system longer than you ...
- How to pass a roadside inspection: CVSA answers Roadcheck questionson May 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Will inspectors be conducting drug and alcohol tests roadside? No, that's not part of the initiative. As far as random testing or anything, no. They're just looking for signs of impairment, just like ...
- Thousands of Australians use medicinal cannabis. Some say drug testing hasn't caught upon April 22, 2024 at 12:39 pm
The Victorian government is exploring the possibility of a more nuanced approach to cannabis testing. Workplace and roadside drug-testing can be unreliable, and may detect THC long after its ...
- Island driver refused roadside drug test telling police "it is just my right"on April 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm
An Isle of Wight driver admitted consuming ‘cannabis eatables’ but said he would rather go to court than cooperate with a drug test. David Sanders ... For this reason, he refused to cooperate with a ...
- How long does weed stay in the system? It depends on frequency and drug test typeon April 19, 2024 at 5:04 am
In areas where cannabis remains prohibited, oral fluid is likely the method for roadside testing ... and consumers will still fail a drug test regardless of the product's legality.
- DWI Arrestees: Unexpected Partners in Public Safety Innovationon April 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) started this pilot in January, putting two different types of roadside testing equipment in the hands of DPS drug recognition experts (DREs).
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Roadside drug testing
[google_news title=”” keyword=”roadside drug testing” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”] [/vc_column_text]The Latest Bing News on:
Drug detection
- Sanofi gambles $80M on Fulcrum’s muscular dystrophy drugon May 13, 2024 at 9:44 am
The deal gives the pharma partial rights to a medicine GSK once developed for heart disease but could soon become the first therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
- Refusal to undergo random drug testingon May 13, 2024 at 9:01 am
Dear PAO, We have a family business engaged in transporting passengers/commuters. Can refusal to undergo random drug testing be a valid ground for the dismissal of an employee? Lydia Dear Lydia, In ...
- Merck stops testing combo drug for skin cancer as more patients discontinueon May 13, 2024 at 5:55 am
This is the latest setback for the experimental drug, vibostolimab, and the related promising new class of immunotherapies called anti-TIGIT. Merck was testing vibostolimab along with Keytruda, its ...
- Merck stops skin cancer combination therapy testing in late-stage studyon May 13, 2024 at 3:09 am
Merck said on Monday it had discontinued the arm of a late-stage study, which tested an experimental antibody-based drug with its blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda for some patients with the most ...
- QIAGEN receives FDA clearance for QIAstat-Dx respiratory syndromic testing panel for fast and accurate resultson May 12, 2024 at 11:18 pm
Germantown, Maryland, and Venlo, the Netherlands, May 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today ...
- New drug testing machines touted by Manitoba government as way to combat toxic drug crisison May 10, 2024 at 3:56 pm
The Manitoba government has purchased two new drug testing machines in an effort to boost harm reduction resources amid a toxic drug crisis in the province.
- Province to purchase drug testing machineson May 10, 2024 at 11:14 am
The NDP government is moving on interim measures to address Manitoba’s toxic drug crisis while plans are worked on for a permanent supervised consumption site, the Free Press has learned. The ...
- Trucking's hair testing wait rolls onon May 10, 2024 at 5:08 am
2015 law calling for better driver drug testing gathers dust despite recent studies showing hair tests uncover 11 times more illicit drug use than urinalysis. They say time is like a roll of toilet ...
- Marijuana legalization, trucking, and the future of drug testingon May 9, 2024 at 2:33 pm
Marijuana legalization, or at least decriminalization, is picking up steam. Further moves could reshape the future of drug testing in trucking altogether.
- New California law to require drug testing devices at bars, nightclubson May 2, 2024 at 10:34 am
A new law aims to prevent others from Baxa's experiences, requiring certain alcoholic beverage license holders in California to provide drug testing devices to customers starting July 1. The devices ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Drug detection
[google_news title=”” keyword=”drug detection” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]