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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Development of a point‐of‐care test for the detection of MDMA in latent fingerprints using surface plasmon resonance and lateral flow technology
Contributor:
Pollard, Caroline;
Hudson, Mark;
McDonnell, James M.;
Royall, Paul G.;
Wolff, Kim
Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>To date, a specific point‐of‐care test (POCT) for 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy, ‘E’) in latent fingerprints (LFPs) has not been explored. Other POCTs identify MDMA in sweat by detecting the drug as a cross‐reactant rather than target analyte, thus decreasing the test's sensitivity. The study's aim was to design a sensitive POCT for the detection of MDMA in LFPs using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) technology. A high‐affinity antibody binding pair was identified using the former technique, deeming the pair suitable for a LFA. Titrations of fluorescently labelled antibody and antigen concentrations were tested to identify a sharp drop‐in signal upon the addition of MDMA to allow a clear distinction between negative and positive outcomes. We trialled the LFA by producing dose response curves with MDMA and a group of drugs that share a similar chemical structure to MDMA. These were generated through spiking the LFA with increasing levels of drug (0–400 pg/10 μl of MDMA; 0–10,000 pg/10 μl of cross‐reactant). Fluorescent test signals were measured using a cartridge reader. The cut‐off (threshold) 60 pg/10 μl calculated better cartridge performance (1.00 sensitivity, 0.95 specificity and 0.98 accuracy), when compared with 40 pg/10 μl. The biggest cross‐reactant was PMMA (250%), followed by MDEA (183%), MBDB (167%), MDA (16%) and methamphetamine (16%). A sensitive LFP screening tool requiring no sample preparation was successfully designed.</jats:p>