New Assays for Drug Abuse and Toxicity

New assays have been developed for amphetamines/methamphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, ethanol, methadone, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and propoxyphene.

All of the assays are designed for use on the Architect c8000, ci8200, and Aeroset immunnochemistry systems of Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL, USA). With the exception of ethanol, all the assays utilize the Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay technique, which uses antibodies that react with the particular drug being detected. If the target drug is in the sample, highly specific antibodies attach to it and induce an optical change that can be measured by the immunochemistry system. Ethanol is measured through its reaction with a highly specific protein, an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase.

"These tests are critical to expanding our diagnostic test menus as they are used by emergency departments and in a variety of lab environments, including those performing employee drug screening,” said Douglas C. Bryant, vice president, global commercial operations, Diagnostics Division, Abbott Laboratories.




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