Saliva test to detect drugs in alcohol
A new test uses saliva to diagnose poisoning in drunk people. The test may help in detecting drugs like the date rape drug GHB.
The test was developed by scientists from Loughborough University, UK, and the University of Cordoba, Spain. The results are published today, Friday 8th January, in the Journal of Breath Research.
“Many people attending accident and emergency departments have some kind of alcohol-related issue, particularly at the weekends,” explains Paul Thomas, Professor of Analytical Science at Loughborough University, and co-author of the paper. “We’re aiming to develop a test that is as simple as taking temperature with a thermometer that detects when patients are more than just drunk.”
The researchers developed a test which detects the presence of methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, propan 1,3 glycol and γ-hydroxybutyric acid (also called the date rape drug GHB).
These chemicals were added to ‘fresh’ saliva collected from three healthy volunteers.
Once the chemicals were added to the fresh saliva the researchers used an oral sampler to extract methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, 1,3-propandiol and γ-hydroxybutyric acid. The compounds were detected using gas chromatography-differential mobility spectrometry.
“We were surprised at the ease at which we could detect γ-hydroxybutyric acid,” continues Thomas. “It’s both a polar and acidic molecule — but it turned out to be easy to detect, even at the low concentrations we were studying.”
The researchers are now working on running trials of their test in a clinical setting, on patients in emergency departments.
“We’re hoping to demonstrate that this test will be simple, effective and useful for clinicians to use,” concludes Thomas. “I think this is a very exciting area of research and in the next few years there will be a host of simple tests on breath, skin and saliva that will aid with diagnosis in hospitals.”
Category: Features, Technology & Devices
