GB2486472A - Apparatus and method for testing beverages for the presence of date rape drugs - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for testing for the presence of at least one date rape drug or prodrug thereof has at least one portion which changes colour in the presence of the drug(s) to be tested. The apparatus is in the form of a drinking vessel (Figure 3) or comprises a drinking paraphernalia for immersion in a drinking vessel, preferably a drinking straw (Figure 1), a stirring stick or a decorative umbrella 10. The apparatus may comprise a chamber 13 having a transparent or translucent portion 14, a port allowing fluid communication with the chamber and a portion 15 changing colour in the presence of date rape drug(s) such as 4-hydroxybutanoic acid, 4-hydroxypentanoic acid, ketamine, flunitrazepam or diazepam. Preferably the port is sealed with a frangible tip 16 and the chamber 13 is under reduced pressure. The port may be provided with a check-valve restricting fluid to flow from the chamber. A method for testing for spiked beverages using the aforementioned apparatus is also claimed.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRUG TESTING

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for drug testing. More especially the invention relates to testing for drugs administered covertly in so called drug-rape or date-rape hereinafter referred to as "date rape" although in fact the drug may not be the result of a date but a casual encounter nor necessarily result in rape but rather, for example theft or assault. There are, for example, reports of organs being removed from victims following covert administration of the drugs.

Three main classes of date rape drugs are known.

The first include 4-hydroxybutanoic acid and its prodrugs such as sodium 4- hydroxybutanoate and 4-hydroxybutyrolactone and its analogues such as 4-hydroxypentanoic acid and 4-hydroxypentanoyl lactone. Hereinafter all these materials will be referred to as 4-hydroxybutanoic acid unless the context does not admit this.

The second class of drugs includes ketarnine and the third class includes fast acting diazepams such as diazepam itself which is sometimes known by the registered trade mark Valium® and flunitrazepam which is sometimes known by the registered trade mark Rohypnol®.

The effects of these materials on the victim include intoxication and sedation.

The extent of date rape is not known. It is widely surmised that there is significant under reporting of most sexual assaults. Additionally since the effects of the date rape drugs are not dissimilar to those of alcohol the victim may not be sure that he or she has been drugged. Finally detection of the material more than a few hours after the event is difficult.

It is certainly possible to test beverages for the presence of date rape drugs. It is not feasible to provide a detailed analysis of a beverage at the point of consumption. It is known to provide test-strips of pH sensitive paper to test for the presence of 4-hydoxybutanoic acid (http://www.drinkdetective.com/science/DDsummaryreport.pdf page 4 and W02005/059541). The authors contend that 4-hydroxybutanoic acid spiked beverages are alkaline and unspiked beverages acidic. Accordingly the Drink Detector system regards a high pH as a sign of the presence of 4-hydroxybutanoic acid. The test is liable to criticism. The authors admit that the Drink Detector detects the presence of high levels of base in illicitly prepared material. If high levels of base are not present the pH change will not happen and the test will fail. It has to be questioned whether if such a large change in pH were present then the test and appearance of the beverage would also not be changed.

In like manner ketamine is tested for with a colorimetric test which is responsive to amine functionality. Examples of this include. Immunoassays for ketamine such as those employing murine monoclonal antiketamine antibodies can be used Testing for flunitrazeparn and other diazepams are typically conducted by immunoassay and thus more expensive but more selective than tests for 4-hydroxybutanoic acid or ketamine.

In any event even if the Drink Detective system is technically effective it is socially unacceptable for drinkers to produce test strips and pipettes in night clubs and bars.

The invention seeks therefore to provide a date rape test system and method which overcomes these problems.

In accordance with the invention there is provided drinking paraphernalia which provides an indication in the presence of at least one of date rape drug.

In accordance with the invention there is thrther provided Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of non-limiting example by reference to the accompanying figures of which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a drinks glass provided with a drinking straw of the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view of a decorative umbrella of the invention and Figure 3 is a side elevation of a drinking vessel of the invention.

Typically the invention will provide a colour change in the presence of the 4-hydroxybutanoic acid although in principle other stimuli such as sounds could be provided.

By providing the test as a part of drinking paraphernalia preferably drinking paraphernalia which in use is typically immersed in the drink such as straws, stirrers, umbrellas, floating decorative items and cocktail sticks, the apparatus of the invention is more socially acceptable than a test strip. Furthenriore at least some embodiments provide a continuous monitor of the drink and thus are able to detect introduction of the drug after an initial test for example when the potential victim leaves the drink to go to the toilet.

The precise nature of the test is not of the essence of the invention and it may for example comprise colorimetric tests such those involving redox reactions and complex formations, those which include p1-I indicators and immunoassays. The particular test employed will depend on the material to be tested for.

Examples of tests for 4-hydroxybutyric acid include complex formation with transition metal ions such as cobalt, chromium, chromium and especially iron optionally in the presence of ligands such as hydroxylamine salts. A preferred example is Fe (III) with hydroxylamine salts. In particular the systems described in Alston and Ng Forensic Science International 126 (2002) 114-117 and WO 2005/08 8297 can be used. Examples of indicators include bromocresols especially bromoeresol purple (CAS 11 5-40-2) and especially resorcin blue (CAS 33869-21-5).

Examples of tests for ketamine include eolorirnetric tests for amine functionality such as the well known Dragendorff reagent. A problem with this is that Dragendorff reagent is responsive to many other materials and may give a false positive. In other embodiments of the invention therefore an immunoassay is employed.

Conveniently diazepams can be detected by an immunoassay. Such tests are well-known in the art.

Desirably the test reagents have little or no solubility in the drink and can thus be coated on a portion of the paraphernalia. The test item for example a decorative umbrella can thus rest in the drink and if the drink is spiked at any time will reveal the presence of the drug.

In other preferred embodiments of the invention however the test reagents have solubility in the drink or for other reasons such as user perception it is desirable to isolate the reagents from the drink. This can be achieved in a number of ways. In one embodiment of the invention the test reagents are received within a chamber which is under reduced pressure and provided with a frangible portion and a transparent or translucent portion. In use the test item is placed in the drink with the frangible portion immersed. The frangible portion is ruptured and the drink is drawn into the chamber where it contacts the test reagents. The result of the test is visible through the transparent or translucent portion.

In a variation of this in place of a frangible portion a check valve which allows drink to flow into the test item but at least partially restricts flow out of the item. Those skilled will have no difficult in devising suitable arrangements which could comprise a simple duckbill valve of a soft tube which collapses under back pressure or a diaphragm valve with a flexible flap which covers a port restricting flow out of the device. Liquid can then be drawn into the test chamber for example by using a squeeze bulb or hydrostatic pressure for testing but prevented from being expelled backing into the drinking vessel.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated drinking vessel I containing beverage 2 which may or may not be alcoholic. The apparatus of the invention comprises drinking straw 3 which may be a conventional drinking straw for example an elongate member of plastics material or paper having a bore 4 extending theretlirough. A portion of the straw 3 is provided with material which changes colour in the presence of 4-hydroxybutanoic acid or other date rape drug as hercinbcfore described.

In Figure 2 there is illustrated a decorative umbrella 10 having legs 11 supporting canopy 12 and hollow shaft 13. A portion 14 of the shaft is translucent. Received in the hollow shaft and visible through the translucent portion 14 is pellet 15. Pellet 15 comprises absorbent material such as paper which is impregnated with material which changes colour in the presence of 4-hydroxybutanoic acid as hereinbefore described. The hollow shaft in combination with frangible tip 16 defines a chamber. The chamber is at less than atmospheric pressure. In use the umbrella is placed in the beverage in decorative manner.

To test the beverage the frangible portion is ruptured. Beverage is drawn into the chamber by hydrostatic pressure and contacts the pellet 15 which changes colour if 4-hydroxybuatanoic acid or other date rape drug is present. Because the chamber is sealed save for the relative small hole caused by rupture of the frangible portion little or no liquid leaves the chamber to return to the bulk beverage. In embodiments which are not illustrated a check valve as hereinbefore described is provided to still further isolate the liquid within the hamber from the bulk beverage.

In the embodiment of Figure 3 the test material 21 is presented on the side of a drinking vessel 20. Preferably the drinking vessel is made of lightweight plastics material.

Typically the drinking vessel 20 is of lightweight plastics material and intended for one time use and then disposal for recycling or otherwise. The walls of the drinking vessel are therefore flexible. Received in the interior walls of the drinking vessel 20, preferably at or near the base for example within 50% preferably within 30% of the total height of the vessel from the base 22 is provided test material 21 as hereinbefore described. The drinking vessel of the invention is of the kind typically used at festivals and large scale events where covert administration of date drugs is relatively likely. The walls of the drinking vessel may but need not be transparent or translucent to allow any change of colour to be detected by looking at the outside of the drinking vessel.

Those skilled in the art will have no difficulty in devising modifications.