A Novel Point-of-Care Detection Device for the rapid analysis of Novel Psychoactive Substances

With novel psychoactive substances (NPS) use still prevalent across Europe and new, structurally advanced generations of these drugs emerging, it is imperative that drug detection methods advance at the same time. NPS are a chemically diverse and evolving group, which makes rapid detection challenging. We have previously shown that fluorescence spectral fingerprinting (FSF) has the potential to provide a rapid assessment of synthetic cannabinoid presence directly from street material with minimal processing and in saliva. This technology has now been incorporated into a point-of-care technology that can be used confidently by a range of stakeholders; from medical to prison staff.

The point-of-care device was developed in a laboratory, and a library of common NPS and other illicit compounds was built using purchased laboratory standards and pharmaceuticals. Seized drug material was also sought from research partners including prisons, the local police force, and other analytical laboratories. 

The device was successfully employed in drug checking settings, detecting a range of illicit compounds including benzodiazepines and opiates. Additionally, the device was shown to detect the more recent group of NPS, nitazenes, in both tablets and powdered material. This testing was carried out without standard laboratory equipment, with a total preparation and analysis time of under 10 minutes.

This device has the potential to support portable drug checking in a range of settings, with minimal sample preparation, short analysis time, and easy-to-interpret results.