GB2418248A

GB2418248A - Testing device for a spiked drink

Info

Publication number: GB2418248A
Application number: GB0420706A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-17
Filing date: 2004-09-17
Publication date: 2006-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2024-09-17
Also published as: GB2418248B; GB0420706D0

Abstract

A testing device (10) for detecting the presence of one or more substances in a fluid is provided. The substances include, for example, covertly administered chemicals, such as date rape drugs. The device comprises a fully functional drinking straw having test means (20) for detecting the presence of the or each substance in a fluid and indicating a positive test result. A user can thereby be alerted to the presence of the substance in the fluid prior to ingestion using an inconspicuous testing method. The testing device may be integrally formed with the straw or comprise a testing strip applied thereto. The testing device may be sensitive to the presence of benzodiazephines, Rohypnol, gamma hydroxy butyrate, amphetamine, or an allergen such as nuts.

Description

24 1 8248

A TESTING DEVICE

The present invention relates generally to a testing device and specifically to a device for testing for the presence or absence of substances in a fluid. s

In many circumstances it is desirable for an individual to know if a particular substance is present in a fluid prior to drinking it. For example, an individual may be allergic or intolerant to a particular substance and wish to confirm that a fluid does not contain the substance. Alternatively an individual may wish to confirm that a beneficial substance is present in a fluid. In addition, in recent times the incidents of introduction of drugs into the drinks of unsuspecting individuals has lead to many incidences of so-called "date rape" in which a drug such as gamma hydroxy butyrate (CHB) is used to "spike" a drink. The effect of GHB and other similar drugs is incapacitation and loss of memory, and these drugs are being used increasingly with malevolent intent.

It is known to use test strips to test for compounds such as amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates and cocaine. However, these strips are usually used by laboratory personnel for testing urine samples to detect drug abuse rather than in the environment ol a fluid which will be ingested.

Patent document GB2383130 describes a beer mat including a testing surface which uses an antibody reaction to determine the presence of a drug in a drink.

However, the method requires a sample of the drink to be removed and placed on the beer mat. This means that the fluid cannot be continually monitored, and a fresh sample of fluid would need to be tested each time the drink was left unattended. In addition a beer mat testing apparatus is conspicuous, and is likely to become covered in liquid if used as a mat for fluid containers.

The present invention seeks to address the problems with known testing devices.

The present invention provides a testing device for testing for the presence of one or more substances in a fluid, the device comprising a drinking straw having test means for detecting the presence of the or each substance in a fluid and indicating the presence thereof.

The present invention therefore uses as its starting point a fully functioning drinking straw which is intended to be placed in a fluid as a matter of course. The drinking straw then provides for the testing of the presence or absence of a substance in fluid about to be ingested through the straw.

By fluid is meant any substance with a viscosity suitable for ingestion via suction through a hollow body, and would include drinks such as carbonated beverages, milkshakes, medicines, fruit juices and alcoholic beverages.

The drinking straw may comprise an elongate hollow tube. Most usually drinking straws will be substantially right cylindrical in form, although other configurations such as box-section tubes and curved tubes are not beyond the scope of the invention as all that is required is a body through which fluid can be drawn by suction.

The test means may be formed integrally with the drinking straw. For example, the test means may comprise a coating of material applied to the drinking straw so that the test means effectively becomes part of the drinking straw. Alternatively the test means may comprise material impregnated or imbedded into the drinking straw. For example, the test means may be added to the material from which a drinking straw is to be formed. In one embodiment the test means comprise a reagent which is added to a precursor plastics raw material which is then formed into a plastics drinking straw.

Because drinking straws are intended to be placed in fluid and left ready for intermittent usage, a drinking straw Is an ideal vehicle for a testing means. The straw is inconspicuous and the testing means can be permanently in contact with the fluid so that continuous monitoring is possible.

Alternatively the test means may be formed separately from the drinking straw and be attachable to form the device. For example, the test means may comprise a testing strip which is attached to the drinking straw by any convenient means such as adhesion (with food-approved adhesive), welding or form engagement.

In embodiments in which the test means are formed separately fiom the drinking straw the test means may be supplied separately to a user and adapted to be easily associated with the straw prior to use.

The test means may be provided on the exterior of the drinking straw, for example in the form of a test strip or a material coating. The test means is therefore placed immediately into direct contact with the fluid when the drinking straw is inserted into a vessel.

The test means may be arranged in a striped configuration along the length of the drinking straw. In this way, when the test means detects a substance and produces an indication confirming detection the detection signal can be made extremely obvious and allows a marked contrast between areas including test means and those not.

Alternatively the test means may be arranged in a helical eonEguration along the length of the drinking straw. As such a single line of testing material could be applied but appear in a striped configuration when viewed from any point along the length of the straw.

The test means may be adapted to dissolve upon detection of the or each substance.

Part or all of the test means may dissolve and the dissolution may provide benefits such as producing an indication that the substance has been detected on the drinking straw body. In one embodiment the dissolution of the test material following detection results in a reaction which produces a coloured compound within the fluid itself so that the fluid changes colour upon detection of a substance rather than just a signal being generated on the drinking straw.

Upon detection of the or each substance the testing device may be adapted to prevent fluid passing through the drinking straw. In this way the testing device incorporates a safety function in that it will not allow fluid to be ingested when an undesirable substance is detected in the fluid. The device may prevent fluid flow S by any convenient means such as by blocking the passage of fluid or preventing the generation of suction. For example, in one embodiment the test means fonns a frangible line around the periphery of the drinking straw such that when the substance is detected the straw is broken at the frangible line to prevent fluid entering the straw.

The test means may be capable of detecting the presence of an unwanted substance administered covertly to a fluid. For example the test means may be capable of detecting the presence of benzodiazephines (such as Rohypnol), gamma hydroxy butyrate (G H B) or methylene dioxy methamphetamine (ecstasy) . This therefore helps a user to guard against the addition of unwanted substances to their drink.

Alternatively or additionally the test means may be capable of detecting the presence of a substance in a fluid to which a user is allergic or intolerant or would rather not ingest for some reason. For example the test means may be capable of detecting the presence of nuts, garlic, wheat or alcohol.

Upon detection of a substance by the test means the device may release a neutralising substance to neutralise a detrimental effect of the detected substance.

For example, when the substance reacts with a test reagent a chemical may be produced and released into the fluid to degrade the substance.

The test means may produce a visible colour change upon detection of a substance.

An immediately obvious indication that a substance has been detected is advantageous and colour change could be used to achieve this.

Because the device may be used in low light or dimly lit areas, such as bars or night clubs, the test means may produce a fluorescent or luminescent compound upon detection of a substance.

The indication signal provided by the test means upon detection of a substance may have an intensity which is proportional to the concentration of the substance detected. This could be particularly useful when there is a threshold concentration of a substance which either must be achieved in a fluid or above which could cause problems, rather than simply a positive or negative reading which would not give any indication of the level of substance present.

The test means may comprise a chemical reagent which is reactive with the substance to be detected. The chemistry involved in such reactions for specific substances is well known to those skilled in the art.

The test means may comprise an antibody capable of binding to the substance to be detected. Upon binding a signal, such as a coloured compound, is generated.

The drinking straw may be formed from plastics materials such as foodapproved polyethylene or polypropylene. Alternatively the drinking straw may be formed from paper material. Multi-layered structures including layers of different materials to give desired properties, in which one or more of the layers may comprise or include test means, are possible.

The test means may be distributed along the entire length oaths drinking straw so that it is not critical to what level the straw is immersed in a fluid for testing to be possible.

The test means may be distributed in discrete test areas on the drinking straw body.

It is possible that the vessel into which the straw is placed and/or the liquid to be tested obscure that part of the straw which is immersed. Accordingly the test means may produce an indication that a substance is present at a site remote from the initial site of detection. For example a coating may be provided which is porous and allows fluid to travel along the length of the straw regardless if it is immersed in fluid or not. An indication signal could then be generated at the end of the straw not immersed in t1uid.

The test means may test for a plurality ol different substances and the indication provided by the test means may be different depending upon the substance detected although a single positive indication may suffice for any one of a number of substances of interest.

In order to protect the device from contamination prior to use the device may further comprise a protective sheath in which the drinking straw is packaged.

The test means may be packaged separately from the drinking straw in embodiments m which the test means are formed separately.

The present invention also provides a pack comprising a plurality of testing devices as described here and above. The testing device could therefore conveniently be distributed in a package including instructions for use and details I O of substances which can be detected.

The present invention also provides a method of forming a testing device for testing of the presence of one or more substances in a fluid, the method comprising the steps of providing a drinking straw and providing test means associated with the drinking straw for detecting the presence of the or each substance and indicating the presence thereof.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a diagrammatic side view of a testing device formed according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating the component parts of the testing device of Figure 1; Figure 3a is a diagrammatic view of a testing device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention prior to detection of a substance; Figure 3b is a diagrammatic view of the testing device of Figure 3a following detection of a substance; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a testing device according to an alternative embodiment; Figure Sa is a diagrammatic side view of a testing device formed according to a still further embodiment prior to exposure to a substance of interest; and Figure Sb is a diagrammatic side view of the testing device of Figure Sa following exposure to the substance.

Referring first to Figure I there is shown a testing device generally indicated 10 comprising a drinking straw in the form of a generally cylindrical hollow body I S and substance testing means in the form of a strip of testing material 20 which is wound around the body I S in a helical fashion.

Referring now to Figure 2 the formation of the device 10 is illustrated.

The body IS is a hollow cylinder deified by a thm wall of plastics material and is formed by any convenient method such as extrusion.

The strip 20 is in the form of a thin laminar sheet of testing material, in this embodiment being Litmus pH indicator paper which exhibits a colour change dependent on the acidity of fluid into which it is introduced (red under acid conditions and blue under alkaline conditions). The strip 20 is wound around the body 15 to give the hchcal configuration shown in Figure 1, and is secured to the body 15 by an adhesive.

The Litmus reagent carried on the surface of the strip 20 allows the pH of a fluid into which the drinkhlg straw is placed to be indicated. This system could be useful, for example, in situations where it is known that a drink should be alkaline under normal circumstances but if contaminated with a drug the pH drops so that the fluid becomes acidic.

Referring now to Figure 3a an alternative testing device 110 based on a drinking straw is shown. The body 115 of the device 110 has a coating applied by spraying or painting a testing reagent to form a plurality of testing areas each of which is substantially circular. The colour of the material used to form the testing areas 125 is chosen so that it does not change the colour of the body 115; that is to say that the material is clear or chosen so as to be the same/similar in colour to the body 115. In Figure 3a the straw 110 is shown in a bottle 130 which is half filled with a fluid 135 in the form of beer.

In Figure 3a the beer 135 is uncontaminated and the test areas 135 indicate that the beer 135 has not been tampered with. In Figure 3b a drug, in this embodiment a benzodiazephine, has been covertly administered to the beer 135. The benzodiazephine reacts with the reagent in the test areas 125, and this reaction produces a coloured compound which turns the areas 125 to a colour which contrasts with the colour of the body 115. Accordingly a series of highly visible spots is shown on that part of the body 115 which is immersed in the beer 135.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown a testing device 210 according to a further embodiment. The device 210 comprises a body 215 with a generally elliptical section formed from a porous paper material. Test means in the term of a reagent are impregnated into the body 215 in discrete bands 240, 245, 250. In this embodiment the reagent used for the bands 240. 245, 250 are different and chosen to detect the presence of dit't'erent substances in a drink. In this embodiment test band 240 tests for the presence of saccharin (artificial sweetener), test band 245 tests for the presence of sodium chloride (salt) and test band 250 tests for the presence of nuts. This embodiment is orientated towards health- conscious users who may want to test that the drink they are about to ingest does not have any other substances tested t'or by the bands 240, 245, 250.

Because the material from which the body 215 is formed is paper and because the reagents used to form the bands 240, 245, 250 are impregnated into the porous paper material, it is possible that once the device 210 has been immersed in a fluid the fluid may wash away the reagents over time, and thus in this ease the indicating test may be transient with continuous monitoring of the fluid not be possible.

However, in this case continual monitoring is not critical because the health drink is not likely to be consumed in circumstances in which a user is concerned about covert contamination. Thus a relatively cheap and simple devotee 210 can be provided.

Reterring now to Figure 5a there is shown a device 310 according to a further embodiment. A generally cylindrical hollow body 315 is divided into an upper portion 316 and a lower portion 317 by a separation line 318 t'orrned by a band of test material which joins the portions 316, 317 together. The reagent from which the test material band 318 is formed is chosen so that upon contact with a reactive substance to be tested for the test material is dissolved. As a result when the device 310 is placed nil contact with a fluid containing the substance to be tested for the band 318 is dissolved and the upper and lower portions 316, 317 become separated. Not only will the separation of the portions 316, 317 alert the drinker's attention to the presence of the substance, but because the straw 310 has split in half it can no longer be used as before. In a further embodiment (not shown) a resilient flap within the interior ol the straw is held in an open position by portion of test material such that when the test material dissolves the resilient flap moves to a closed position which blocks the straw and prevents the passage of fluid.

Claims

1. A testing device for testing for the presence of one or more substances in a fluid, the device comprising a drinking straw having test means for detecting the presence of the or each substance in a fluid and indicating the presence thereof.

2. A testing device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the drinking straw is an elongate hollow tube.

3. A testing device as claimed m Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the test means are formed integrally with the drinking straw.

4. A testing device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the test means comprise a coating of material applied to the drinking straw.

5. A testing device as claimed in any of Claims I to 3, in which the test means comprise material impregnated into the drinking straw.

6. A testing device as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, in which the test means is formed separately from the drinking straw and is attachable thereto.

7. A testing device as claimed in Claim 6, in which the test means comprise a testing strip attachable to the drinking straw.

8. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means are provided on the exterior of the drinking straw.

9. A testing device as claimed h1 any preceding Claim, in which the test means is arranged hi a striped configuration along the length of the drinking straw.

10. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means is arranged in a helical configuration along the length of the drinking straw.

11. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means is adapted to dissolve upon detection of the or each substance.

12. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which upon detection of the or each substance the device is adapted to prevent fluid passing through the drinking straw.

13. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means is capable of detecting the presence of an unwanted substance administered covertly to a fluid.

14. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means is capable of detecting the presence of a substance in a fluid to which a user is allergic or intolerant.

15. A testing device as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, in which upon detection of a substance the device releases a neutralsing substance to neutralise the detrimental effect of the detected substance.

16. A testing device as claimed in ally preceding Claim, in which the test means is capable of detecting the presence of benzodiazephines m a fluid.

17. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means is capable of detecting the presence of Rohypnol in a fluid.

18. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means is capable of detecting the presence of gamma hydroxy butyrate in a fluid.

19. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means is capable of detecting the presence of methylene dioxy methamphetamine in a fluid.

20. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means is capable of detecting the presence of nuts in a fluid.

21. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means produces a visible colour change upon detection of a substance.

22. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means produces a fluorescent compound upon detection of a substance.

23. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the intensity of the indication provided by the test means is proportional to the concentration of the substance in the fluid.

S

24. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means comprise a chemical reagent reactive with the substance to be detected.

25. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the test means comprise an antibody capable of binding to the substance to be detected.

26. A testing device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the drinking straw is formed from plastics material.

27. A testing device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 26, in which the drinking IS straw is formed from paper material.

28. A pack comprising a plurality of testing devices as claimed in any preceding Claim.

29. A method ol forming a testing device for tcstmg for the presence of one or more substances in a fluid, the method comprising the steps of providing a drinking straw and providing test means associated with the drinking straw for detecting the presence of the or each substance and indicating the presence thereof.

30. A testing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

31. A method of forming a testing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.