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Investigation into the suitability of capillary tubes for microcrystalline testing

Elie, Leonie E., Baron, Mark G., Croxton, Ruth and Elie, Mathieu P. (2012) Investigation into the suitability of capillary tubes for microcrystalline testing. Drug Testing and Analysis, 5 (7). pp. 573-580. ISSN 19427603

Item Type: Article

Abstract

A comparison between microcrystalline tests performed on microscope slides and flat capillary tubes with inner diameters ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 mm was carried out to explore the appropriateness of tubes for rapid testing of suspected drugs of abuse in the laboratory as well as in the field. Tests for mephedrone, cocaine, and phencyclidine were chosen as examples to investigate the handling of the capillary tubes, the influence on crystal habit, size, and the effects on the limit of detection. Image stacking software was used to increase the depth of field of micrographs taken from developed microcrystals greatly enhancing the interpretability even months after carrying out the microcrystalline test. Additionally, the potential of seeding capillary tubes with a reagent was studied. Pre-treatment of tubes would allow microcrystalline tests to be carried out quicker and anywhere without the necessity of taking along expensive and hazardous reagents. The sealing of capillary tubes containing developed microcrystalline tests in order to preserve results for a long period of time was successfully done by applying paraffin wax to the open ends. Finally, it was concluded that capillary tubes are suitable vessels for performing microcrystalline tests. The increased portability of the improved set-up allows tests to be safely executed outside laboratories without impairing the quality of the result. Findings were applied to six legal high samples purchased online between May and August 2011. The active ingredients like MDAI as well as cutting agents like caffeine were successfully identified using the microcrystalline test technique in capillary tubes.

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More Information

Depositing User: Ruth Croxton

Identifiers

Item ID: 16572
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.1372
ISSN: 19427603
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/16572
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dta.1372

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for Ruth Croxton: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4027-7077

Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 26 Feb 2024 13:49
Last Modified: 26 Feb 2024 13:49

Contributors

Author: Ruth Croxton ORCID iD
Author: Leonie E. Elie
Author: Mark G. Baron
Author: Mathieu P. Elie

University Divisions

Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing > School of Psychology

Subjects

Sciences > Chemistry

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