Evaluation of commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to identify psychedelic phenethylamines.
Journal of analytical toxicology September 1, 2011 Sarah Kerrigan, Monica Brady Mellon, Stephanie Banuelos et al. 32 citations
Nine commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) used for routine drug screening fail to detect most psychedelic phenethylamines of the 2C, 2C-T, and DO series. Cross-reactivity for 10 of 11 tested designer drugs was below 0.4%, and even concentrations up to 50,000 ng/mL in urine—far above typical forensic levels—did not trigger a positive result. Only 4-methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA) showed measurable cross-reactivity, ranging from 5% to 200% depending on the assay. Laboratories relying solely on immunoassay screening may therefore miss these powerful psychedelic substances, whereas broad-spectrum chromatographic techniques can detect them.