AU2003100271A4

AU2003100271A4 - Chemical spot test for the detection of drugs of abuse in a beverage.

Info

Publication number: AU2003100271A4
Application number: AU2003100271A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christian James Loane
Original assignee: Loane Christian James Mr
Current assignee: Loane Christian James Mr
Priority date: 2003-04-13
Filing date: 2003-04-13
Publication date: 2003-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2011-04-13

Description

Page 1 Description DESCRIPTION FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The analysis device for beverages described herein relates to the detection of drugs of abuse. More particularly, the invention relates to the uptake of a liquid sample from a beverage by capillary force, and subjects the liquid sample to an analytical system which performs a visible qualitative color assay in the presence of drugs of abuse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The clandestine placement of drugs into drinks has occurred for many years. Recently in both Australia and the United States of America this activity has focused its attention on a crime that has become known as Date Rape. The perpetrators of this crime are reportedly approaching their victims at social gatherings, bars, clubs and the like and placing various chemicals into beverages which are subsequently consumed by the unknowing victim. Sedation may occur within 20-30 minutes and last for several hours. Reports of young women waking up in unfamiliar surroundings, without clothes, have been reported in the USA. Along with these reports the all too familiar chemical names flunitrazepam, also known as rohypnol (roofies, roche, ruffles, R-2, rib, rope) and gamma hydroxy butuyrate (blue nitro, liquid ecstasy, fantasy, GBH) have become synonymous with Date Rape. This is however misleading, as Australian Forensic testing reports implicate methylamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy) and cannabinoids as the drugs of choice for clandestine placement in beverages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0003] Described herein is a device for the rapid, easy, safe, inexpensive and reliable detection of drugs of abuse in beverages. Detection is necessary in order to prevent a person consuming a drink that has been spiked without their knowledge. These drugs can include but are not limited to ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA, benzodiazepines, GHB, ketamine, and cannabinoids. The testing of drugs of abuse is comprehensive and well documented in literature. Many of the techniques for drug detection however are costly, complicated or require well trained personnel and equipped laboratories. It is not the intention of the current invention to identify individual drugs of abuse, rather, to alert the user to the possibility of a narcotic or impurity being present within their beverage. This is observed as a presumptive color change in the bibulous carrier when contacted with a spiked beverage sample.

[0004] Detection of amphetamine type drugs and benzodiazepines may be achieved with modified Dragendorffs reagent. [0005] Detection of benzodiazipines may be achieved with Page la Zimmerman?s reagent. [0006] Detection of amphetamine type drugs and GHB may be achieved with bromocresol green. [0007] Detection of amphetamine type drugs may be achieved with cobalt thiocynate. [0008] Detection of GHB may be achieved with cobalt nitrate. [0009] Detection of cannabinoids may be achieved with Duquenois-Levine reagent. [0010] These are provided by way of example and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0011] While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment with some degree of specificity, it is understood that these details have been given by way of example and changes in construction and chemical design may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the presence of drugs of abuse in a beverage comprising: a. a manufactured plastic capillary tube for beverage sampling. b. a manufactured bibulous carrier. c. colorimetric reagents pre-impregnated into bibulous carrier.

2. The device of claim 1. where said drugs of abuse is a benzodiazepine diazepam, flunitrazepam, etc)

3. The device of claim 1. where said drugs of abuse includes, but not restricted to, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylamphetamine, amphetamine, methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA).

4. The device of claim 1. where said drugs of abuse is Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). The device of claim 1. where said drugs of abuse are cannabinoids.

6. The device of claim 1. where said manufactured plastic capillary tube is a straw or straw like device on thin internal diameter.

7. The device of claim 1. where said manufactured bibulous carrier is filter paper (Whatmann No.l, No.2 or No.3).

8. The device of claim 1. where said colorimetric reagent is Dragendorff?s reagent.

9. The device of claim 1. where said colorimetric reagent is Zimmerman?s reagent. The device of claim 1. where said colorimetric reagent is bromocresol green.

11. The device of claim 1. where said colorimetric reagent is cobalt thiocyanate.

12. The device of claim 1. where said colorimetric reagent is cobalt nitrate.

13. The device of claim 1. where said colorimetric reagent is Duquenois-Levine reagent.

14. A method for testing for the presence of drugs of abuse in a beverage which requires: a. Obtaining a sample volume of the beverage solution. b. Spotting the beverage sample volume onto the test bibulous carrier. c. Observing a colorimetric change of the test bibulous carrier. The method of claim 14. where said sample volume is no more than one fifth of one millilitre.

16. The method of claim 14 where said spotting of sample volume is achieved by applying and removing the plastic capillary rapidly three times onto the surface of the bibulous carrier. Page 3

17. The method of claim 14 where said colorimetric change is easily visible in natural light and occurs within seconds.