Philips Develops Roadside Drug-Testing Device

// added August 04, 2009 // 15 comments //
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A handheld developed by Philips for law enforcement detects traces of cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and methamphetamine in 90 seconds. The system uses magnetic nanoparticles attached to ligands that bind to traces of these drugs. Once saliva has been placed inside the device, an electromagnet mixes the sample and the nanoparticles. Frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) — the same phenomenon that underlies fingerprint scanners and multitouch screens — is then used to measure a change to the refractive index. By immobilizing different drug molecules on different parts of a sensor surface, the analyzer is able to identify traces of each different drug. An electronic screen displays instructions and a simple color-coded readout of the results
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15 comments // Philips Develops Roadside Drug-Testing Device

  • kaska4300
    • 0
      kaska4300  
    • They used the word "traces" three times in this article. What constitutes a trace?

      If I smoked yesterday and there are traces of cannabis molecules floating around does that mean I am driving under the influence?

      Where is the line drawn between privacy and control?

    • 6 months ago
  • aj727b
    • 0
      aj727b  
    • I have an idea: test driving ability and reaction time. I could not care less what molecules are in the spit of somebody I share the road with. What I care about is the idiots who crash into other drivers, for whatever reason. Lets actually make people drive responsibly, or no driving for them at all on the public roads. There are responsible marijuana users, for example, who drive safely and should not be penalized based on their saliva, just as there are "sober" drivers who constitute immediate dangers to the rest of us. If we treated drivers who are reckless with cars the same way we would treat someone who recklessly fires a gun into a crowd we might not have to find excuses like pot use to take them off the road. If you crash into me and it was reckless, I don't need a drug test to tell me you shouldn't get to do it again the next day to another innocent person.

    • 6 months ago
  • MongoPongo
    • 0
      MongoPongo  
    • This is one step closer to what is needed. If it could determine if you are high at that moment legalization of pot would be right around the corner. This is what the gov is waiting for. Tax our weed please just let us smoke in peace... At least the responsible ones.

    • 6 months ago
  • stevieuk
  • bailey78
  • wmorrison13
    • 0
      wmorrison13  
    • bailey78:

      It takes several hours for the drug to get out of your body. It goes throught the blood stream. Since their checking your saliva, It wouldn't matter if they checked you a day later.

      Are you high right now?

    • 6 months ago
  • Kaotik
    • 0
      Kaotik  
    • bailey78:

      I agree bailey... so what happens if I do my usual cocaine.. takes 3 days to be out of my system... and I get pulled over on the second day... am I still under the influence because they can still find traces in my saliva?

    • 6 months ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • Cannabis is one of the top cash crops. Apparently many, many people are still in the closet. It's time to come out of the closet and join the conversation.

      It's time to work to get cannabis reclassified. Cannabis is not illegal due to truth! Cannabis is illegal due to lies, distortion and spin.

      Some uniformed individuals want to be smug about the use of cannabis. It's time to wipe the smug off their mugs, with facts. Fact is 'they' have been misled! Many have forced members of their families to turn to alcohol, over cannabis, based on lies. Facts matter. The truth matters most. Cannabis should not be illegal for adults!

    • 6 months ago
  • bailey78
  • hunzedog
  • hunzedog
  • necrotized
  • mykuh
    • 0
      mykuh  
    • This would be great, say if they wanted to legalize marijuana and regulate it. It would be a good way to determine if someone was under the influence while driving. Much like a breathalyzer. Or to find out if someone underage was under the influence.

    • 6 months ago
  • randomprojection
    • 0
      randomprojection  
    • saliva-based drug tests have been around for years; they have a very limited testing time range, meaning that you would have to smoke or snort or what have you within the last 24 to 72 hours, which i suppose serves its purpose.

    • 6 months ago
  • necrotized

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