Smartphone swabs as an emerging tool for toxicology testing: a proof-of-concept study in a nightclub
Author:
Willeman Théo12ORCID, Grunwald Justine13, Manceau Marc4, Lapierre Frédéric5, Krebs-Drouot Lila2, Boudin Coralie6, Scolan Virginie26, Eysseric-Guerin Hélène16, Stanke-Labesque Françoise17, Revol Bruno37
Affiliation:
1. 36724 Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Pharmacogénétique et Toxicologie, CHU Grenoble Alpes , 27015 Institut de Biologie et de Pathologie, Univ Grenoble Alpes , Grenoble , France 2. 36724 Clinique de Médecine Légale, CHU Grenoble Alpes , 27015 Univ Grenoble Alpes , Grenoble , France 3. 36724 CEIP-Addictovigilance, CHU Grenoble Alpes , 27015 Univ Grenoble Alpes , Grenoble , France 4. Clinical Research Center, Inserm CIC1406, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital , Grenoble , France 5. La Belle Electrique Nightclub , Grenoble , France 6. Laboratoire de Médecine Légale, Univ Grenoble Alpes , Grenoble , France 7. Laboratoire HP2 Inserm U1300, Univ Grenoble Alpes , Grenoble , France
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Smartphones have become everyday objects on which the accumulation of fingerprints is significant. In addition, a large proportion of the population regularly uses a smartphone, especially younger people. The objective of this study was to evaluate smartphones as a new matrix for toxico-epidemiology.
Methods
This study was conducted during two separate events (techno and trance) at an electronic music nightclub in Grenoble, France. Data on reported drug use and whether drugs were snorted directly from the surface of the smartphone were collected using an anonymous questionnaire completed voluntarily by drug users. Then, a dry swab was rubbed for 20 s on all sides of the smartphone. The extract was analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry on a Xevo TQ-XS system (Waters).
Results
In total, 122 swabs from 122 drug users were collected. The three main drugs identified were MDMA (n=83), cocaine (n=59), and THC (n=51). Based on declarative data, sensitivity ranged from 73 to 97.2 % and specificity from 71.8 to 88.1 % for MDMA, cocaine, and THC. Other substances were identified such as cocaine adulterants, ketamine, amphetamine, LSD, methamphetamine, CBD, DMT, heroin, mescaline, and several NPS. Numerous medications were also identified, such as antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics, and painkillers. Different use patterns were identified between the two events.
Conclusions
This proof-of-concept study on 122 subjects shows that smartphone swab analysis could provide a useful and complementary tool for drug testing, especially for harm-reduction programs and toxico-epidemiolgy studies, with acceptable test performance, despite declarative data.
Publisher
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
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