title: Multiple drugs of abuse in urine detected with a single reagent and fluorescence polarization.
abstract: We describe a simple polarization fluoroimmunoassay for the detection of several commonly abused drugs in urine. The single reagent used, prepared by mixing four different antisera and three fluorescein-labeled derivatives, produces a polarization signal that is the average of the individual signals of the derivatives. One adds urine to the pre-mixed reagent, incubates at room temperature for a few minutes, then measures fluorescence polarization. The presence of any of several abused drugs, at concentrations of 1 mg/L or more, noticeably decreases the average signal. Although other combinations are possible, the present assay detects the presence of a cocaine metabolite, amphetamine, and (or) several barbiturates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Colbert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Childerstone
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000652:urine; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000652:urine; D003042:Cocaine / Q000652:urine; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization / Q000379:methods; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine