Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
This lab-based study aimed at evaluating lateral flow immunoassay nitazene test strips (NTS; BTNX Rapid Response™) for their potential in drug checking applications.
Findings/Key points
All six authentic drug samples consistently tested positive, with no observed false negatives. Our findings indicate that NTS can theoretically alert to the presence of most nitazene analogues that have emerged on recreational drug markets. However, ‘desnitazenes’ (lacking the 5-nitro group) may yield false negative results due to low cross-reactivity.
Design/methods
Following dilution of drug standards in water, the NTS readouts were analyzed independently by two individuals and by ImageJ. The limit of detection for isotonitazene was determined using two manufacturing lots of NTS. Cross-reactivity with 32 other nitazene analogues was evaluated. Six sourced drug samples were tested to explore the ability of NTS to detect the presence of a nitazene analogue in authentic samples.
