Methamphetamine is an amphetamine derivative (trade name Methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant. Both, methamphetamine and its metabolites are well known for their efficient CNS stimulatory nature. The pharmacological properties of these compounds includes wakefulness, alertness, reduced hunger, increased energy and an overall feeling of well-being. There are several common street names or slangs for methamphetamine viz. Meth, Yellow bam, White cross, Super ice, Speed, crack, Hot ice etc. Various methamphetamine test kits based on the qualitative immunoscreening are available for the detection of methamphetamine in the urine samples. The testing methods for the meth drug abuse, ranges from the complex analytical procedures to simple immunoassay tests. As recommended by the U.S. Department of Defense and adopted by the U.S. Laboratory Certification Program, the cutoff concentration for this test has been standardized to 500 ng/ml. The same cutoff concentration also corresponds to the SAMHSA recommendations for the gas chromatography or the mass spectroscopy techniques. The sensitivity and rapidity of immunoassays in the Meth drug test have made these techniques the most accepted method of preliminary screening for drugs of abuse. These methods not only provide results in proper time but also helps in eliminating large number of negative specimens and selecting a smaller number of initially positive specimens for further extensive testing.
DNA & Genetics
DNA & Paternity
