(Technology Review) Later this year, Philips will introduce a handheld electronic device that uses magnetic nanoparticles to screen for five major recreational drugs.
Philips’ drug tester uses a cartridge containing magnetic nanoparticles and a handheld analyzer. Frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) is used to detect five major recreational drugs in 90 seconds.
The device is intended for roadside use by law enforcement agencies and includes a disposable plastic cartridge and a handheld analyzer. The cartridge has two components: a sample collector for gathering saliva and a measurement chamber containing magnetic nanoparticles. The particles are coated with ligands that bind to one of five different drug groups: cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.
The test takes less than 90 seconds and can detect drugs at concentrations measured in parts-per-billion using a single microliter of saliva.
The combination of high sensitivity, low sample volumes, miniaturization, speed, and ease of use has raised hopes for a handheld biosensor that could perform sophisticated tests with high accuracy.
I will get Paul Armentano on the program to discuss this further. Back in January, he wrote on the subject:
Because saliva tests detect the presence of THC, not marijuana’s inactive metabolites, and have a much more narrow window of detection compared to urinalysis, advocates of the technology believe that it is far more likely than urine testing to provide evidence regarding whether someone may be under the influence of cannabis.
The article examined findings in France that saliva testing “fails to detect the recent use of cannabis over 50 percent of the time” and that “saliva testing is rarely sensitive to THC beyond one or two hours after past use, and that false positive results are not uncommon.” However, if this is new technology, these studies may not apply.
I’m conflicted about this one. On one hand, one of the biggest obstacles we face in legalization is the fear of stoned drivers. If a technology exists that will accurately detect recent and possibly impairing marijuana use in drivers, that could go a long way in removing that obstacle in the minds of many. However, on the other hand, we’re once again confusing the body’s chemical composition with a driver’s actual impairment. No matter where you set the line – anywhere from 2ng/ml to 5mg/ml – you will have people who pass the legal threshhold but are actually quite fine to drive. (I suppose you could make the same argument about .08 BAC in a drinking driver, too.)
Contact your elected representatives and urge them to 'Stop Arresting Marijuana Smokers'. 
What does it mean “Really to be under the influence” just cause I smoke the night before, dose not mean I’m under the influence.
Does this thing test for prescription drugs too? I’m not nearly as worried about stoned drivers as I am for someone who just took a legal drug. If you aren’t going to test for pharmy drugs while driving then I don’t see how it’s right to test for marijuana.
This is a good thing as it now allows for testing of impaired drivers similar to alcohol. Being unable to test for marijuana in the past WAS one of the largest arguments for anti legalization movements. That is now a nul and void argument. I fully support legalization and regulation and this is one more step on that road to success. Thank you Phillips for producing this product. Now time to buy in to phillips as once it does become legal (5 yrs or less im hopping) this product will boom due to police stations needing it.
[...] areas need to be set up for growers, processing laws and standards. The list goes on and on .. New Device Claims ROadside Testing for Marijuana There is new technology being developed to detect marijuana intoxication for police and state [...]
[...] but it has been developed. Its not a traditional saliva test, it involves magnetic nano-particles. New device claims roadside testing for marijuana within 90 seconds | The NORML Stash Blog __________________ At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to [...]
what about technology to detect brain waves amoung our elected officals. what a waste of time, money, and technology. And we cannot figure out how to make panty hose not get runs.
Any way to defend against this?
- An actual performance-based impairment-test
would still carry greater veracity than this
salivary-Indica-indicia-detector.
(At least it’s not measuring
“ye-olde, ancient, inactive-metabolites”,
but actual tetrahydrocannabinol…).
- However,
accuracy of the device itself,
translating specific THC-levels into corresponding
“degrees-of-impairment”,
that’s another matter entirely…
(I suppose you could make the same argument about .08 BAC in a drinking driver, too.)
You can. Ontario Canada has lowered it to .05
The more I think about this thing the more i dislike it. Unless it has a very high degree of accuracy it’s going to harm a lot of innocent people.
Really how accurate is it in telling if someone is intoxicated? I mean it’s possible that a person who has consumed an edible containing thc or a capsule, it’s possible that thc may not be caught in their saliva.
It also could be that since thc is very soluble in alcohol that someone toking and drinking might slip by such a device.
certainly it has potential but it needs to be thoroughly tested for it’s range and accuracy.