In foreign countries, even if drug driving is as dangerous as drunk driving, there are still few equipment for roadside marijuana use inspection. However, thanks to research from the University of Texas at Dallas, this situation may change. Under the leadership of Professor Shalini Prasad, scientists at the university are developing a system that combines a one-time test thc biosensor and a compact portable reader device.
The biosensor consists of two electrodes coated with antibodies that bind only to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). After applying a person's saliva sample to the test paper, insert the test paper into the reader and apply a specific voltage. Since antibodies exhibit different qualities when binding to THC, the current increases according to the number of compounds present in the sample. By measuring the increase, the reader can therefore calculate the THC level in the blood, which is closely related to the THC level in saliva.
It is reported that the test procedure can be performed in five minutes and can measure thc levels ranging from 100 pg per ml to 100 ng per ml. "This is the first demonstration of a prototype device that can report low and high concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol in a noninvasive, highly sensitive and specific manner," Prasad said