A novel smartphone-based device for rapid on-site methamphetamine detection

Abstract

Drug abuse and drug-driving have posed serious threats to the public security. For the urgent need to rapidly on-site screen drug evidence and drug abusers, we developed a novel, sensitive and smartphone-based drug detection device. The core component of this device was a time-resolved fluorescent immunoassay (TRFIA) methamphetamine test strip. A custom APP with embedded algorithm was designed to streamline the detection process and analyze the fluorescence information. This device could reach a detection limit of 3.34 × 10– 9mol/L and a linear range from 3.91 ×10–9mol/L to 1 ×10–6mol/L. It had an excellent stability (CV =2.35%) and a favourable specificity. A single test took no more than 10 minutes. The whole device was integrated and compact. It was feasible to use this device to test methamphetamine abusers through hair. This device provided an effective method for roadside drug testing and clinical diagnosis, and could give helpful assistance to law enforcement officers.