Saliva as a diagnostic matrix for drug abuse.
Scientific interest in saliva as a diagnostic matrix has greatly increased over the last decade. The Triage screening test (Biosite Diagnostics), a rapid immunological test used to detect recreational drugs in the urine, was used to compare two biological matrixes: a non-conventional one, saliva, and a traditional one, urine. Twenty-one drug abusers collected one urine and one saliva specimen, both of which were tested with the Triage kit. Data were validated by gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). Results were positive for methadone in 9 saliva and 14 urine specimens, for opiates in 2 and 10, respectively, and for barbiturates in 2 specimens. Saliva specimens were negative for cannabis, THC, benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants, although the GC-MS analysis revealed low concentrations of these drugs in the saliva. The study demonstrates the possibility of using saliva as a diagnostic matrix to test for drug-taking; however, the Triage kit must be improved before being used with saliva.
Lo Muzio
L
L
Department of Surgery, University of Foggia, Italy. llomuzio@tin.it
Falaschini
S
S
Rappelli
G
G
Bambini
F
F
Baldoni
A
A
Procaccini
M
M
Cingolani
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000032:analysis; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000032:analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000032:analysis; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001463:Barbiturates; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone