| Prescription drug abuse became a major problem | | | | minutes and do not take after ten minutes. |
| today. According to DEA data, the number of | | | | Interpretation: |
| Methadone drug items seized by law enforcement | | | | One step Methadone test results are 95% to |
| increased from 2,865 in 2001 to 10,361 in 2007, | | | | 98% accurate. This test yields positive results |
| suggesting that Methadone contributed to rise in | | | | when the content of Methadone in urine is more |
| overdose deaths. In order to control this, | | | | than 300 ng/ml. For a positive result, a red line |
| methadone abusers must be detected using one | | | | appears in the control (C) region and no line |
| step Methadone test. This test is very much | | | | appears in the test (T) region. For a negative |
| preferred as it is simple and detects the | | | | result, one red line can be seen in the control |
| methadone abuse within minutes. | | | | region and another red or pink line appears in the |
| | | | test region. When the result is invalid, line in the |
| Methadone test procedure: | | | | control region fails to appear. The most common |
| One step Methadone test is a ‘dip and | | | | reasons for invalid results are insufficient specimen |
| read’ type test that is simple to administer to | | | | volume or incorrect procedural techniques. |
| detect the methadone content in urine specimen. | | | | The one step Methadone test provides initial |
| This test can be performed without using any | | | | analytical test results. In order to obtain a |
| other instruments. This test detects the elevated | | | | confirmed analytical result, a more specific |
| levels of Methadone by using the reaction of | | | | alternate chemical method, Gas Chromatography |
| antibody to its antigen. | | | | Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) must be used to |
| Prior to testing, allow the test card and urine | | | | confirm the abuse, particularly after positive |
| specimen to reach room temperature (15-30° | | | | results in the initial tests. The cut-off levels for |
| C). Remove the test card from the pouch and | | | | Methadone test recommended are 300 ng/ml for |
| discard the moisture absorbent packet. Immerse | | | | initial test and 250 ng/ml for confirmation test. |
| the test strip in urine specimen for 10 to 15 | | | | In order to overcome the rising prescription drug |
| seconds, with arrows pointing towards the | | | | abuse, one should detect and control the |
| specimen. While immersing the test strip, do not | | | | Methadone abuse. And one step Methadone test |
| cross the maximum (MAX) line on strip into the | | | | is an important tool in detecting the abusers. This |
| urine specimen. Place the test card on a non | | | | test is simple and provides accurate results which |
| absorbent flat surface, set the timer and wait for | | | | are set to SAMHSA cut off levels. |
| the lines to appear. Take the results at five | | | | |