P. Wang, X. Xia, M. Uddin
University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
Keywords: drug threats, detection, human, environment, diagnostics
We have developed rapid and high sensitivity technology platforms to detect emerging drugs threats such as fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and xylazine in minutes. These platforms utilize proprietary and high affinity reagents and patent-pending technologies. Detection limit is at sub-picograms to low nanograms per milliliter, ~100 fold higher sensitivity than current commercially available solutions. The technologies have the flexibility of being used for human, drug or environmental samples. The InstaStrip solution is a rapid strip test that can be read with naked eyes at home or in-the-filed and produces positive or negative results in 5 minutes. The Chemiluminescence Immunoassay solution is a high-throughput in-lab technology that can generate qualitative or quantitative results for hundreds of samples in 30 minutes. Extensive human and environmental sample testing demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity. Clinical sensitivity in human urine samples is 100% (95% confidence interval (CI) 75.8-100%), and clinical specificity is 99.5% (95% CI 97.3-99.9%). Usability assessment demonstrates lay users can easily perform the InstaStrip technology, generating accurate results. Both technology platforms are fast, easy-to-use, affordable, adaptable, and can be made widely accessible to vulnerable populations who are most severely affected by emerging drug threats, for both civilians and warfighters.