Drug checking technologies
We utilize a combination of drug checking technologies at no cost to the participant in order to balance the need for immediate results with the need for precise, in-depth results. Our professional drug checking technicians will use a combination of technologies and walk you through the benefits and limitations of each.
Test Strips
Commonly known as “test strips,” immunoassay strips can rapidly identify the presence or absence of their target substance. We have strips that can test for: fentanyl, nitazenes, benzodiazepines, amphetamine, methamphetamine, xylazine, and medetomidine.
The test strips we use have been validated (by us and other scientists) and have a high degree of accuracy, especially when combined with the other methods, but they aren’t perfect. We can talk through what might cause false negative or false positive results, and
FTIR
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a gold standard for point-of-service testing. Our portable machine is the size of a shoebox and can provide results within minutes. It has limitations. Generally, it has difficulty identifying compounds present at a low level in a sample. It works for powders and liquids but doesn’t work very well to test plant matter, paper, or gel.
Lab-based testing
Lab-based testing provides sensitive, specific results and quantitative information, but must be done via sending samples to our partner laboratory and therefore does not provide instantaneous results. We send our samples to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Rapid Drug Analysis and Research (RaDAR) program. Specific technology includes Direct Analysis in Real-Time (DART) mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS), as well as other techniques when needed.
Contact us
Need your drugs checked? Have questions about our drug supply research? Get in touch.