Application of ORAL{middle dot}screen Saliva Drug Test for the Screening of Methamphetamine, MDMA, and MDEA Incorporated in Hair

A one-step immunoassay drug test originally designed for oral fluid can also screen for methamphetamine, MDMA, and MDEA in hair samples. Extracting a 10-milligram hair specimen with hydrochloric acid and methanol, then reconstituting the extract in water, allows the test to detect these drugs at limits of 0.5 ng/mg for methamphetamine, 0.8 ng/mg for MDMA, and 1.0 ng/mg for MDEA. Results match well with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry confirmation. While positive results require confirmation by a specific alternative method, this approach offers a simple, convenient screening tool for drug enforcement that uses only a small hair sample.

Study at a glance

Abstract

By the use of a one-step immunoassay drug test for oral fluid, a convenient and fairly sensitive screening method has been devised for methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) incorporated in hair. These drugs, in a 10-mg portion of hair, were extracted into 5M HCl/methanol (1:20, v/v), and the extract reconstituted in 100 micro L water was assayed with the saliva drug test ORAL.screen trade mark. The limits of detection were 0.5 ng/mg hair for d-MA, 0.8 ng/mg for dl-MDMA, and 1.0 ng/mg for dl-MDEA. The results are in good agreement with those of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination. Although all positive results must be confirmed by either GC-MS or a specific alternative methodology, this method provided a simple screening, suitable for drug enforcement purposes, while requiring only a 10-mg hair specimen.