WO2015036804A1 - Apparatus - Google Patents

Apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015036804A1
WO2015036804A1 PCT/GB2014/052807 GB2014052807W WO2015036804A1 WO 2015036804 A1 WO2015036804 A1 WO 2015036804A1 GB 2014052807 W GB2014052807 W GB 2014052807W WO 2015036804 A1 WO2015036804 A1 WO 2015036804A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
paper
test according
test
impregnated
sodium
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2014/052807
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
James Gordon Campbell
Original Assignee
Lab5 Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lab5 Limited filed Critical Lab5 Limited
Publication of WO2015036804A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015036804A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/94—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving narcotics or drugs or pharmaceuticals, neurotransmitters or associated receptors
    • G01N33/948—Sedatives, e.g. cannabinoids, barbiturates

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for detecting the presence of cannabinoids. More particularly it relates to an easy to use apparatus for detecting the presence of cannabinoids and more particularly to apparatus which preferably has a long shelf life.
  • Cannabinoids are a class of chemical compounds. These are believed to activate receptors that repress neurotransmitter release in the brain. Some cannabinoids are produced naturally in the human body. Others are produced from plants and some are produced synthetically.
  • cannabinoids Whilst some cannabinoids have legitimate medical uses, because of their physiological and psychoactive effects they are often misused.
  • the most commonly misused cannabinoid is cannabis, which is also known as marijuana.
  • the cannabinoids are known to occur in several different plants including Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis, Cannabis indica, Echinacea pallida, Echniacea purpurea, and Helichrysum umbraculigerum and cannabis for so-called recreational use is generally produced from the cannabis plant.
  • the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol although there are a substantial number of other cannabinoids present.
  • the possession, use and sale of cannabis preparations containing psychoactive cannabinoids is illegal. Despite this, the United Nations have suggested that cannabis is the most-used illicit drug in the world and it is believed that some 162 million people worldwide use cannabis each year.
  • cannabinoids are illegal other than for certain controlled medical use, it is necessary for law enforcement officers and others to be able to ascertain whether cannabinoids are present, and/or whether they have been used or been present at a scene.
  • a number of methods for detecting cannabinoids have been suggested. Some of these are highly complex and require expensive equipment, such as gas and/or mass spectrometry which has to be operated under laboratory conditions. Whilst there is a need, in some circumstances, for this hightech approach, it is desirable for, for example, a law enforcement officer to be able to assess immediately whether a cannabinoid is at a particular locale. For example the officer may be at a bar, a nightclub, a sports event, or the like. In addition to law enforcement officers, it may be desirable for stewards at events, proprietors of venues and the like to be able to carry out tests of suspect material to ensure that their premises are kept drug free and to assess when it may be appropriate to send for a law enforcement officer. Some tests proposed involve the use of sulphuric acid or formaldehyde. However, these are toxic and/or corrosive. A further problem is that the materials for the tests are not transportable by air cargo without special procedures.
  • cannabinoids Another approach for detecting the use of cannabinoids has been to use immunoassays for detecting the presence of the cannabinoids in blood, urine and saliva. These are also complex tests and many require laboratory conditions for their use. They can also be expensive to operate.
  • US 2007077660 describes a detection method and kit which is based on thin layer chromatography for the detection of a cannabinoid in a cannabis sample. It is suggested that the kit is easy to use and avoids laborious, time consuming and expensive analytical research to determine the cannabinoid content.
  • the proposed developing solvent is at least 25 vol. % chloroform and at least 25 vol. % 1,2-dichloroethane. Whilst this may offer some advantages when it is necessary to actually analyse the specifics of the cannabinoid present, it still too complex to provide a test which can be quickly and simply applied at the point of use.
  • the azo dye Whilst it may be desirable to apply the azo dye to a filter paper to make a suitable test, in quantity many of the dyes are harmful. Further, the result can be variable as the colour disperses across the test paper with the advancing water front as a drop of test material is applied. The colour can then be lost at the edge of the test paper. It is therefore difficult to assess the results.
  • a test for detecting cannabinoids comprising an azo dye impregnated into an impregnated side of the semi-permeable paper with at least one mordant and at least one buffer and mounting said semi-permeable paper on a support with said impregnated side of the paper located against said support.
  • Any suitable azo-dye may be used.
  • Fast Blue F and Fast Blue FF or Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt may be used with Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt being particularly preferred.
  • the Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt is available from, for example, Sigma Aldrich.
  • the azo dye may be applied in any suitable form.
  • the dye may be applied to the paper as finely divided particles which are impregnated into the texture of the paper.
  • the finely divided particles are of the order of 5 microns in diameter. The use of finely divided particles aids rapid dissolution of the azo dye at the time of the test.
  • the mordant serves to set the dye to the semi-permeable paper. Without wishing to be bound by any theory it is believed that the mordant serves to form a coordination complex with the azo dye. Any suitable mordant may be used. Suitable mordants include salts of ammonia, potassium or sodium. Ammonium chloride is one suitable mordant.
  • Suitable buffer may be used. These will serve to adjust or maintain the pH. Suitable buffers include sodium, potassium and ammonium carbonates and bicarbonates with sodium carbonates and bicarbonates being preferred. Without wishing to be bound by any theory it is believed that the presence of the buffer prevents oxidation of the azo dye and therefore provides an extended shelf life for the test.
  • the mordants and buffers are generally selected such that they will allow the azo dyes to be quickly solubilised when a swab comprising the test material is applied.
  • Impregnating the semi-permeable paper on one side and locating the impregnated side against the support means that any harmful effects which are associated with the dye component is not an issue as the surface of the paper exposed to the user is not impregnated with the dye.
  • Paper such as filter paper will generally be used.
  • the paper will generally be thin such as of the order of about 0.05 mm to about 0.15 mm or from about 0.07 mm to about 0.13 mm.
  • the colour change which will be noted when a cannabinoid is present will depend on the azo dye present in the paper. Where the dye is Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt, the impregnated paper has a slight brown tint in the area of the impregnation. If a cannabinoid is present in the test sample, the colour change will be to a strong pink or red colour. The colour change generally shows within a few seconds and is permanent. Test show that the permancy of colour remains provided that light is excluded in the long term. Any suitable support may be used. Cardboard, or plastics may be used with cardboard being preferred.
  • the azo dyes are light sensitive and therefore the test will generally be stored covered and generally provided pouched in foil. When protected from the light, it is believe that the test of the present invention will have a shelf life of 3 to 5 years.
  • the ingredients in cannabis are not generally soluble in water as they are very oily. They will generally dissolve in solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, and trichloroethylene. However, these are relatively volatile.
  • the sample to be tested is mixed with a solvent and then applied to the test using any suitable swab.
  • the solvent may be a combination of water, acetone, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, wetting agent and a my I acetate.
  • the quantity of the azo dye, being finely divided and dispersed, is readily solubilised, provides a fast reaction, is permanent, is specific to all cannabinoids irrespective of the relative mix of cannabinoids in particular strains of cannabis and other THC- containing plants, has a detection capability of changing colour with as little as 1 microgram of cannabis, enabling it to serve as a wipe test, swab test, dip test, spot test and the like, is immune to false positives from other plant materials not containing cannabinoids, and when reacted provides a stable compound that renders the azo dye inert and harmless. Therefore although the red dye becomes visible on the test paper it is at this stage safe to handle.
  • Figure 1 is a photograph of one side of a filter paper having the dye impregnated therein.
  • the product to be tested is mixed with the solvent.
  • a swab may then be used to apply the product to the upper surface of the paper. If a cannabinoid is present, a colour change will be noted.

Abstract

A test for detecting cannabinoids comprising an azo dye impregnated into an impregnated side of the semi-permeable paper with at least one mordant and at least one buffer and mounting said semi-permeable paper on a support with said impregnated side of the paper located against said support.

Description

Apparatus
The present invention relates to apparatus for detecting the presence of cannabinoids. More particularly it relates to an easy to use apparatus for detecting the presence of cannabinoids and more particularly to apparatus which preferably has a long shelf life.
Cannabinoids are a class of chemical compounds. These are believed to activate receptors that repress neurotransmitter release in the brain. Some cannabinoids are produced naturally in the human body. Others are produced from plants and some are produced synthetically.
Whilst some cannabinoids have legitimate medical uses, because of their physiological and psychoactive effects they are often misused. The most commonly misused cannabinoid is cannabis, which is also known as marijuana. The cannabinoids are known to occur in several different plants including Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis, Cannabis indica, Echinacea pallida, Echniacea purpurea, and Helichrysum umbraculigerum and cannabis for so-called recreational use is generally produced from the cannabis plant. The principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol although there are a substantial number of other cannabinoids present. In most countries of the world, the possession, use and sale of cannabis preparations containing psychoactive cannabinoids is illegal. Despite this, the United Nations have suggested that cannabis is the most-used illicit drug in the world and it is believed that some 162 million people worldwide use cannabis each year.
Since the cannabinoids are illegal other than for certain controlled medical use, it is necessary for law enforcement officers and others to be able to ascertain whether cannabinoids are present, and/or whether they have been used or been present at a scene.
A number of methods for detecting cannabinoids have been suggested. Some of these are highly complex and require expensive equipment, such as gas and/or mass spectrometry which has to be operated under laboratory conditions. Whilst there is a need, in some circumstances, for this hightech approach, it is desirable for, for example, a law enforcement officer to be able to assess immediately whether a cannabinoid is at a particular locale. For example the officer may be at a bar, a nightclub, a sports event, or the like. In addition to law enforcement officers, it may be desirable for stewards at events, proprietors of venues and the like to be able to carry out tests of suspect material to ensure that their premises are kept drug free and to assess when it may be appropriate to send for a law enforcement officer. Some tests proposed involve the use of sulphuric acid or formaldehyde. However, these are toxic and/or corrosive. A further problem is that the materials for the tests are not transportable by air cargo without special procedures.
Another approach for detecting the use of cannabinoids has been to use immunoassays for detecting the presence of the cannabinoids in blood, urine and saliva. These are also complex tests and many require laboratory conditions for their use. They can also be expensive to operate.
US 2007077660 describes a detection method and kit which is based on thin layer chromatography for the detection of a cannabinoid in a cannabis sample. It is suggested that the kit is easy to use and avoids laborious, time consuming and expensive analytical research to determine the cannabinoid content. The proposed developing solvent is at least 25 vol. % chloroform and at least 25 vol. % 1,2-dichloroethane. Whilst this may offer some advantages when it is necessary to actually analyse the specifics of the cannabinoid present, it still too complex to provide a test which can be quickly and simply applied at the point of use.
An alternative approach has been to use a colour change test and research has been carried out to establish whether azo dyes can be used for the detection of cannabinoids. Dyes such as Fast Blue F, Fast Blue FF and Corinth V zinc salt have looked promising. Whilst the colour change noted provides a good indicator, there is a problem that the dyes are not stable in solution and therefore any solution must be made up just before it is used or solid dye is added to a solution of the test sample. A report from The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime considered these colori metric tests and confirmed that the azo dyes are all unstable. The report can be found at http://www.unodc.orR/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/bulletin/bulletin 1969-01-01 4 page006.html.
Whilst it may be desirable to apply the azo dye to a filter paper to make a suitable test, in quantity many of the dyes are harmful. Further, the result can be variable as the colour disperses across the test paper with the advancing water front as a drop of test material is applied. The colour can then be lost at the edge of the test paper. It is therefore difficult to assess the results.
It is therefore desirable to provide a test which is easy to transport, easy to use and which addresses the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the present invention there is provided a test for detecting cannabinoids comprising an azo dye impregnated into an impregnated side of the semi-permeable paper with at least one mordant and at least one buffer and mounting said semi-permeable paper on a support with said impregnated side of the paper located against said support. Any suitable azo-dye may be used. In one arrangement, Fast Blue F and Fast Blue FF or Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt may be used with Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt being particularly preferred. The Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt is available from, for example, Sigma Aldrich. The azo dye may be applied in any suitable form. In one arrangement, the dye may be applied to the paper as finely divided particles which are impregnated into the texture of the paper. In one arrangement, the finely divided particles are of the order of 5 microns in diameter. The use of finely divided particles aids rapid dissolution of the azo dye at the time of the test.
The mordant serves to set the dye to the semi-permeable paper. Without wishing to be bound by any theory it is believed that the mordant serves to form a coordination complex with the azo dye. Any suitable mordant may be used. Suitable mordants include salts of ammonia, potassium or sodium. Ammonium chloride is one suitable mordant.
Any suitable buffer may be used. These will serve to adjust or maintain the pH. Suitable buffers include sodium, potassium and ammonium carbonates and bicarbonates with sodium carbonates and bicarbonates being preferred. Without wishing to be bound by any theory it is believed that the presence of the buffer prevents oxidation of the azo dye and therefore provides an extended shelf life for the test.
The mordants and buffers are generally selected such that they will allow the azo dyes to be quickly solubilised when a swab comprising the test material is applied.
Impregnating the semi-permeable paper on one side and locating the impregnated side against the support, means that any harmful effects which are associated with the dye component is not an issue as the surface of the paper exposed to the user is not impregnated with the dye.
Any suitable semi-permeable paper may be used. Paper such as filter paper will generally be used. The paper will generally be thin such as of the order of about 0.05 mm to about 0.15 mm or from about 0.07 mm to about 0.13 mm.
The colour change which will be noted when a cannabinoid is present will depend on the azo dye present in the paper. Where the dye is Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt, the impregnated paper has a slight brown tint in the area of the impregnation. If a cannabinoid is present in the test sample, the colour change will be to a strong pink or red colour. The colour change generally shows within a few seconds and is permanent. Test show that the permancy of colour remains provided that light is excluded in the long term. Any suitable support may be used. Cardboard, or plastics may be used with cardboard being preferred.
The azo dyes are light sensitive and therefore the test will generally be stored covered and generally provided pouched in foil. When protected from the light, it is believe that the test of the present invention will have a shelf life of 3 to 5 years.
The ingredients in cannabis are not generally soluble in water as they are very oily. They will generally dissolve in solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, and trichloroethylene. However, these are relatively volatile. Generally in use, the sample to be tested is mixed with a solvent and then applied to the test using any suitable swab. In one arrangement, the solvent may be a combination of water, acetone, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, wetting agent and a my I acetate.
Other benefits of the invention are that the quantity of the azo dye, being finely divided and dispersed, is readily solubilised, provides a fast reaction, is permanent, is specific to all cannabinoids irrespective of the relative mix of cannabinoids in particular strains of cannabis and other THC- containing plants, has a detection capability of changing colour with as little as 1 microgram of cannabis, enabling it to serve as a wipe test, swab test, dip test, spot test and the like, is immune to false positives from other plant materials not containing cannabinoids, and when reacted provides a stable compound that renders the azo dye inert and harmless. Therefore although the red dye becomes visible on the test paper it is at this stage safe to handle.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the following example and the accompanying figure.
Figure 1 is a photograph of one side of a filter paper having the dye impregnated therein.
Example 1
A composition of
Fast Corinth V zinc salt 0.5 - 2 wt%
Sodium carbonate 4 - 8 wt%
Sodium bicarbonate 80 - 85 wt%
Sodium hydrogen phosphate 4 - 6 wt%
Ammonium chloride 2.8 - 3.2 wt% The resultant product is impregnated into one side of a filter paper. This is illustrated in Figure 1. The impregnated paper is mounted on a cardboard support with the impregnated side adjacent to the cardboard.
The product to be tested is mixed with the solvent. A swab may then be used to apply the product to the upper surface of the paper. If a cannabinoid is present, a colour change will be noted.

Claims

Claims
I. A test for detecting cannabinoids comprising an azo dye impregnated into an impregnated side of the semi-permeable paper with at least one mordant and at least one buffer and mounting said semi-permeable paper on a support with said impregnated side of the paper located against said support.
¾f A test according to Claim 1, wherein the azo-dye is selected from Fast Blue F and Fast Blue FF or Fast Corinth V zinc chloride double salt.
3. A test according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the azo dye is applied to the paper as finely divided particles which are impregnated into the texture of the paper.
4. A test according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the finely divided particles are of the order of 5 microns in diameter.
5. A test according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the mordant is selected from salts of ammonia, potassium or sodium.
6. A test according to Claim 5, wherein the mordant is ammonium chloride.
7. A test according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the buffer is selected from sodium, potassium and ammonium carbonates and bicarbonates.
8. A test according to Claim 7, wherein the buffer is sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate.
9. A test according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the paper is filter paper.
10. A test according to Claim 9, wherein the thickness of the paper is from about 0.07 mm to about 0.13 mm.
II. A test according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 wherein the support is cardboard or plastic.
12. A test according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the composition comprises:
Fast Corinth V zinc salt 0.5 - 2 wt%
Sodium carbonate 4 - 8 wt%
Sodium bicarbonate 80 - 85 wt% Sodium hydrogen phosphate 4-6 wt% Ammonium chloride 2.8-3.2 wt%
PCT/GB2014/052807 2013-09-16 2014-09-16 Apparatus WO2015036804A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201316436A GB201316436D0 (en) 2013-09-16 2013-09-16 Apparatus
GB1316436.3 2013-09-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2015036804A1 true WO2015036804A1 (en) 2015-03-19

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3955926A (en) * 1972-02-12 1976-05-11 Merck Patent Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Process and quick-action reagent for the detection of narcotics
EP0132313A2 (en) * 1983-06-27 1985-01-30 Erez Forensic Technology Ltd. Reagents, test kits and methods for the detection of cannabinoids
WO1989009395A1 (en) * 1988-03-29 1989-10-05 Keystone Diagnostics, Inc. Paper and method for detecting marijuana use
US5457054A (en) * 1993-03-02 1995-10-10 Geisinger; George H. Unit test kit and method for qualitative identification of an illicit drug

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3955926A (en) * 1972-02-12 1976-05-11 Merck Patent Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Process and quick-action reagent for the detection of narcotics
EP0132313A2 (en) * 1983-06-27 1985-01-30 Erez Forensic Technology Ltd. Reagents, test kits and methods for the detection of cannabinoids
WO1989009395A1 (en) * 1988-03-29 1989-10-05 Keystone Diagnostics, Inc. Paper and method for detecting marijuana use
US5457054A (en) * 1993-03-02 1995-10-10 Geisinger; George H. Unit test kit and method for qualitative identification of an illicit drug

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201316436D0 (en) 2013-10-30

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