Evaluation and validation of a non-invasive (using latent fingerprints) drug screening device as a point-of-care tool for the detection of MDMA
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Analytical & Environmental Sciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Kim Wolff (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Caroline Pollard (Student) |
Publications
Pollard C
(2022)
Development of a point-of-care test for the detection of MDMA in latent fingerprints using surface plasmon resonance and lateral flow technology.
in Drug testing and analysis
Pollard C
(2022)
Evaluation of Latent Fingerprints for Drug Screening in a Social Care Setting.
in Journal of analytical toxicology
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M015572/1 | 30/09/2015 | 29/09/2019 | |||
| 2199751 | Studentship | BB/M015572/1 | 31/08/2016 | 30/08/2020 | Caroline Pollard |
| Description | A sensitive point-of-care test has been designed in order to detect MDMA via a latent fingerprint. The purpose of this test is to screen sweat deposited via a fingerprint for MDMA, the active component of ecstasy. Using this biological matrix is novel but has been shown to contain drugs and their metabolites. It is attractive to use because it can be collected quickly and non-invasively. Analysing latent fingerprints via a point-of-care test produces a quick screening test which would allow a fast turnaround of results. An excellent binding pair, antibody and its antigen, where identified using initial plate immunoassays and biacore. The latter focused on calculating the binding kinetics of the binding pair which showed quick association and very slow dissociation. This is optimal for this type of point-of-care testing as it would encourage a fast result which is stable long enough to read the results. Binding between the antibody and antigen would be shown using fluorescence. The number of fluorescent molecules bound to the antibody was also optimised to ensure the highest amount of signal was seen with no quenching (the phenomenon of signal reduction when a large number of fluorescent molecules are in close proximity to one another). Additionally, using a novel tool called the Ridgeway (Intelligent Fingerprinting Ltd) a method has been optimised for the collection of latent fingerprint samples for this purpose. Currently studies looking at latent fingerprints focus on how to produce comparable samples for their main purpose of identifying individuals. However, it unknown on how to produce comparable samples for point-of-care testing which the main aim to produce a high quantity of sample. Key factors that have been identified include: consistent deposition pressure and surface are vital, deposition of 10 cumulative latent fingerprints produces a significantly higher sample quantity than a single sample, different environmental climates do not affect the amount of sample deposited. Additionally, to collect eccrine only latent fingerprints the use of carex soap consistently removed external contaminants the most with the wearing of non-powdered nitrite gloves encouraging eccrine sweat re-accumulation. The collection of these samples will prove consumption rather than contamination. |
| Exploitation Route | The main way is to try and test the point-of-care test in different situations to firstly understand whether the test designed is sensitive enough as well as the feasibility of implementing this type of testing. Previous studies by our collaborators have shown that a point-of-care test using this technology but for other drugs has been successfully applied at the coroners office however applying it to festivals or roadside testing would be hugely beneficial also. In addition, the optimised sampling method should be testing. |
| Sectors | Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Security and Diplomacy |