Smartphone swabs as an emerging tool for toxicology testing: a proof-of-concept study in a nightclub.
Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine August 27, 2024 Théo Willeman, Justine Grunwald, Marc Manceau et al. 3 citations
Smartphone swabs can detect a range of recreational drugs and medications, offering a new, non-invasive tool for monitoring drug use. In a nightclub study in Grenoble, France, 122 drug users had their smartphones swabbed and analyzed. The three main drugs found were MDMA (83 phones), cocaine (59), and THC (51). Sensitivity ranged from 73% to 97.2% and specificity from 71.8% to 88.1% for these three drugs compared with self-reported use. Other substances detected included ketamine, amphetamine, LSD, methamphetamine, heroin, and several new psychoactive substances, as well as medications like antidepressants and painkillers. Different drug-use patterns emerged between techno and trance events. The method shows acceptable test performance and could complement existing drug testing for harm reduction and toxico-epidemiology.