Screening for cocaine on Euro banknotes by a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay.
This study focused on quantitative detection of cocaine on Euro banknotes in Germany. A sensitive direct competitive immunoassay was developed and optimized with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.6ng/L. Exhaustive cocaine extraction by solvent was tested using different methanol concentrations and buffered solutions. Cross-reactivity studies were performed to determine the degree of interference of cocaine metabolites with the immunoassay. Sixty-five Euro banknotes obtained from different districts in Berlin were evaluated. A 100% contamination frequency with cocaine was detected. A comparison between the amount of cocaine extracted by cotton swabbing of one square centimeter of the banknote showed a good correlation for lower contamination levels. This assay showed high sensitivity of detecting pg of cocaine per 1cm2of one banknote by swabbing 1cm2: 0, 14, and 21pg/cm2. Moreover, three notes of different denominations revealed high cocaine concentration; 1.1mg/note, and twice 55µg/note.
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, Germany; School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof (SALSA), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany.
Nahla A
NA
Abdelshafi
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, Germany; School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof (SALSA), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany.
Ulrich
U
Panne
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, Germany; Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: rudolf.schneider@bam.de.
Rudolf J
RJ
Schneider
D003042:Cocaine / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis*; D010209:Paper
D009294:Narcotics; D003042:Cocaine
Cocaine; Drugs on bills; ELISA; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Euro banknotes