RAPID ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY FOR DESIGNER DRUGS

RECENTLY, MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE USE OF ILLICIT AND/OR DESIGNER DRUGS BY PEOPLE FROM ALL FACETS OF AMERICAN LIFE. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR OF THE DESIGNER DRUGS ARE THE FENTANYLS WHICH ARE VERY POTENT AND VERY DIFFICULT TO DETECT IN BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS. THESE POTENT DRUGS ARE BEING USED BY PEOPLE FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY INCLUDING HEALTH CARE WORKERS, MILITARY PERSONNEL, AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, MANY COMPANIES, INCLUDING THE U.S. MILITARY, ARE NOW BEGINNING TO DEMAND THAT EMPLOYEES SUSPECTED OF DRUG USE UNDERGO DRUG TESTING. A VARIETY OF METHODS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE SPECIFIC AND SENSITIVE DETERMINATION OF FENTANYLS IN BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE AVAILABLE ASSAYS (I.E., GC, GC-MS) REQUIRE EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT, TRAINED PERSONNEL, AND ARE SLOW IN DETERMINING IF FENTANYLS HAVE BEEN CONSUMED. USE OF RADIOIMMUNOASSAY (RIA) PROCEDURES PRODUCES THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL WHICH IS PRESENTLY, AND WILL INCREASINGLY BECOME, A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP AN ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY (EIA) WHICH WILL BE USEFUL FOR THE DETECTION OF LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF FENTANYL IN BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS BY HIGH VOLUME SCREENING FACILITIES. THIS ASSAY IS SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, RAPID, AND MAY ALSO BE ADAPTABLE FOR THE DETECTION OF OTHER ILLICIT DRUGS.