Test to Detect Drugs of Abuse in ED

A new point-of-care (POC) test is a rapid in vitro diagnostic test to determine if patients entering the emergency department (ED) of a hospital are under the influence of drugs of abuse.

The OnTrak TesTcard 9 provides a qualitative screen for the presence of amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamines, morphine, phencyclidine (PCP), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) in urine. The single-step test requires no reagent mixing, timing, incubation, or special handling. Results for all nine drugs are available in three to five minutes, which the developer notes is three times faster than competitive tests. In addition, test results are stable for up to six hours.

The test is the product of Varian, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA, USA). "TesTcard 9 affords us the opportunity to expand our point-of-care tests beyond criminal justice and workplace applications by opening the doors to clinical applications,” stated Stephen Schultheis, vice president and general manager, consumable products, Varian. "This clinical POC application is an exciting new opportunity for Varian as we assess future developments with products and new technologies which will move us further outside our current drugs-of-abuse applications.”




Related Links:
Varian >>