Citation

Liut J, Madea B, Kramer M, Maas-Gramlich A. Drug Test. Anal. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/dta.3556

PMID

37501581

Abstract

The amphetamine-type stimulant methamphetamine exists in two enantiomeric forms, (S)-methamphetamine and (R)-methamphetamine, which are both psychoactive but with the (S)-enantiomer being more potent than the (R)-enantiomer. Illicit methamphetamine encountered in Europe is typically a racemic mixture of both enantiomers and enantiopure (S)-methamphetamine, respectively. However, herein we report two cases with proven enantiopure (R)-methamphetamine consumption with moreover both cases remaining undetected by immunoassay screening. Inconspicuous immunoassay findings can be traced back to a considerably higher sensitivity and concentration-dependent cross-reactivity of the applied drug of abuse assay for the (S)-enantiomer of methamphetamine compared with the (R)-enantiomer, and this limitation should be well known by users of immunoassay drug tests.

Language: en

Keywords

(R)-methamphetamine; cross-reactivity; enantioselective analysis; immunoassay drug test