A new study published in the journal Talanta highlights the development of a novel microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μCD-PAD) that can simultaneously detect ethanol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in saliva, offering what researchers describe as a non-invasive, rapid, and cost-effective method for on-site analysis.
For the study, which was also published online by the US National Institute of Health, researchers introduced a capillary-driven device that requires no sample preparation, allowing saliva of varying viscosities to flow seamlessly into the detection zone. This method employs a colorimetric approach, enabling easy quantification of both ethanol and THC using a smartphone camera.
Within just 10 minutes, the device produces a homogenous color signal, which can be analyzed via a smartphone, making it highly user-friendly. The device was further optimized to detect legal limits of ethanol and THC concentrations up to 24 hours after marijuana consumption, with a detection time of 30 minutes.
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