Roadside drug testing

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Modelworks

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
Sounds like they will soon be able to test for drugs from just saliva . No more tossing the drugs out the window and playing innocent. Wonder what the gadget cost ?

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23111/
Later this year, Philips will introduce a handheld electronic device that uses magnetic nanoparticles to screen for five major recreational drugs.

The device is intended for roadside use by law enforcement agencies and includes a disposable plastic cartridge and a handheld analyzer. The cartridge has two components: a sample collector for gathering saliva and a measurement chamber containing magnetic nanoparticles. The particles are coated with ligands that bind to one of five different drug groups: cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.

Once the device's sample collector has absorbed enough saliva, it automatically changes color and can then be snapped into the measurement chamber, where the saliva and nanoparticles mix. An electromagnet speeds the nanoparticles to the sensor surface, different portions of which have been pretreated with one of the five target-drug molecules. If traces of any of the five drugs are present in the sample, the nanoparticles will bind to them. If the sample is drug free, the nanoparticles will bind to the drug-coated sensor surface instead.

During the analysis phase, a beam of light is bounced off the sensor. Any nanoparticles bound to the surface will change its refractive index, thereby altering the intensity of the reflected light and indicating the concentration of drugs in the sample. By immobilizing different drug molecules on different portions on the sensor surface, the analyzer is able to identify the drug traces in question. An electronic screen displays instructions and a simple color-coded readout of the results.
Click to expand...
 
yhelothar

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
I wonder how the amphetamine one would work. I can foresee people with ADD that forgot their proof of medication sitting in a jail cell until they can prove it.
 
R

RapidSnail

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2006
4,257
0
0
Originally posted by: astroidea
I wonder how the amphetamine one would work. I can foresee people with ADD that forgot their proof of medication sitting in a jail cell until they can prove it.
Click to expand...

Is it that hard to call the pharmacy?
 
Krynj

Krynj

Platinum Member
Jun 21, 2006
2,816
8
81
Good. I'm frankly pleased that there's a quicker way to bring justice to people that are driving while under any sort of influence.
 
Gibsons

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
I can see a quick cottage industry developing to beat this. Not entirely sure, but it might not be too hard.
 
C

Corporate Thug

Lifer
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
Originally posted by: astroidea
I wonder how the amphetamine one would work. I can foresee people with ADD that forgot their proof of medication sitting in a jail cell until they can prove it.
Click to expand...

same way it works w/ medical MJ? Write up the ticket, show up to court w/ proof of script.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
:roll:

What about all the people hopped up on cold medicine and prescription pain killers? With the exception of alcohol, I would be much more worried about them than a meth or coke head, and especially a stoner.
 
SacrosanctFiend

SacrosanctFiend

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2004
4,269
0
0
I would welcome something like this in the employment drug testing realm, as it seems to identify people who have recently consumed (and thus are most likely working under the influence) rather than having consumed during non-work time and not working under the influence.

Still, I wonder if we would get the insurance deduction using this method...
 
Modelworks

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
No LSD detection? I see a spike in LSD usage!!!
Click to expand...

Reading more of the article it appears it is very easy to add testing for other drugs . I guess they are just targeting the main abused drugs first.
 
Number1

Number1

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
7,881
549
126
How are they going to decide at what level of drug you get a DUI?

Illegal drugs will get you immediately arrested but will you automatically get a DUI?

 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: JohnCU
they forgot about pain pills and benzos.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I love me some pills so this is even more motivation to choose that drug first.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,271
14,693
146
The ONLY problem I see with this is that as usual, there's no way to differentiate between the joint you smoked over the weekend in the privacy of your own home, and the one you were smoking when the cop pulled you over.

I don't smoke dope...and haven't in 30 years or so, but there needs to be a way to make this distinction.

Of course, I also support legalization and regulation of marijuana just like liquor. Remove all criminal penalties for posession, tax it, sell it in liquor stores...get the states and US out of debt quickly, PLUS, if you remove it from the criminal drug stream, you'll reduce the number of cops who waste time and money trying to arrest people for it, prosecutors who waste time and money prosecuting people for it, etc. and take a sizeable chunk of money away from the criminal element who make BILLIONS of dollars growing, transporting, and selling it.

Win-Win all around.
 
SacrosanctFiend

SacrosanctFiend

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2004
4,269
0
0
Originally posted by: BoomerD
The ONLY problem I see with this is that as usual, there's no way to differentiate between the joint you smoked over the weekend in the privacy of your own home, and the one you were smoking when the cop pulled you over.

I don't smoke dope...and haven't in 30 years or so, but there needs to be a way to make this distinction.

Of course, I also support legalization and regulation of marijuana just like liquor. Remove all criminal penalties for posession, tax it, sell it in liquor stores...get the states and US out of debt quickly, PLUS, if you remove it from the criminal drug stream, you'll reduce the number of cops who waste time and money trying to arrest people for it, prosecutors who waste time and money prosecuting people for it, etc. and take a sizeable chunk of money away from the criminal element who make BILLIONS of dollars growing, transporting, and selling it.

Win-Win all around.
Click to expand...

But, saliva testing usually only shows positive for recent (read: within hours) usage. Of course, I don't know how this new test would work, but I assume somewhat similar.

I agree with you on your second paragraph.
 
Kirby

Kirby

Lifer
Apr 10, 2006
12,028
2
0
I wonder what they can do if you got a nice juicy wad of tobacco in your mouth. :p
 
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