ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Medicolegale 2008 June;128(2):41-7

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Detection of drugs of abuse in serum. I. A novel procedure using Emit II Plus® by V-twin™

Bernini M., Ruffini D., Manzoni S., Saligari E., De Ferrari F.

Dipartimento di Specialità Chirurgiche Scienze Radiologiche e Medico Forensi Cattedra di Medicina Legale-Tossicologia Forense, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia

Aim. The aim of the study was to set a screening method for determination of drugs of abuse in serum, adapting semi-quantitative analytical kits, commercially available (Emit II Plus® cocaine metabolites, opiate, methadone, cannabinoid, amphetamines, and ecstasy assay by V-Twin™).
Methods. The study was carried out on negative serum and calibrated with EMIT® calibrator/control level 0, 1, 2, 3, 4. The validation of the entire method was successfully done in order of sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy.
Results. Analytical results tested good correlation between all values on serum, within a statistically acceptable error, except for cannabinoids and amphetamines on high grades.
Conclusion. This was highly encouraging for the purpose of practical application on legal/forensic field.