Verification of the qualitative methods with test devices for detection of drugs of abuse in urine

Abstract

The verification of the  qualitative method with test  devices for detection of eight drugs of abuse in urine  (amphetamines, methamphetamine,  barbiturates,  benzoylecgonine,  marijuana, 3,4-methylendioxy-methamphetamine, methadone, and opiates) was done using the assessment results  from External Quality Assessment  Scheme according to  verification protocol in  our laboratory, which included predefined performance characteristics such as: accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the method, as well as for method comparison analysis. Our results have shown that  qualitative methods for detection of drugs of abuse in urine have fulfilled the predefined criteria in regard to sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for screening purposes. There was a good agreement between the observed results and assessment results. Reliability of the method has fulfilled the predefined criteria with the exception for amphetamine and methamphetamine (weak and none, respectively). As a conclusion we may say that the rapid non-instrumented test devices for detection of drugs of abuse in urine have shown satisfactory verification results and have fulfilled the criteria for intended purposes according to the ISO 15189 Standard.