A simple device of the dry tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester reagent strip for the detection of methamphetamine

Abstract

A new device to detect methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine(A) and its metabolites in urine was developed using the paper strip method and the test tube method of dry chemical reagents. The reagent containing tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester (TBPE) and borax. For the TBPE paper strip method, a device was prepared with a window at each end of the reagent paper strip; one window is for the sample application, and the other window is for the methylene chloride. The diffused sample from one window reacts with reagent in the paper and produces color at the point where it meets with methylene chloride which has diffused form the other side. A positive sample produces as red-purple color and the negative sample a greenish color, with a detection limit of 5–10 ppm. The result can be obtained within one minute. For the TBPE test tube method which contains dry reagents, the detection limit is 5 ppm and the result can be obtained within 30 seconds, however the carry-on is not as convenient as the paper strip method. The performance of both methods were evlauated by comparing with the results of gas chromatography (GC) and fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). The results were proven that both methods were useful as primary screening reagents to detect MA in urine and in dry powder.