Description

The Cortez Diagnostics, Inc. Buprenorphine RapiCard™ Rapid Test is an immunochromatography based one step in vitro test. This Rapid Test is designed for qualitative determination of the major metabolite of buprenorphine, buprenorphine-3-β-d-glucoronide, in human urine specimens at cut-off level of 10 ng/ml. This assay has not been evaluated in the point of care location and is for use by Healthcare Professionals only. This assay provides only a preliminary analytical test result. A more specific alternative chemical method must be used in order to obtain a confirmed analytical result. Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been established as the preferred confirmatory method by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Clinical consideration and professional judgment should be applied to any drug of abuse test result, particularly when preliminary positive results are indicated.

Buprenorphine, a derivative of thebaine, is an opioid that has been marketed in the United States as the Schedule V parenteral analgesic Buprenex. In 2003, based on a reevaluation of available evidence regarding the potential for abuse, addiction, and side effect, DEA reclassified buprenorphine from a Schedule V to a Schedule III narcotic. Buprenorphine resembles morphine structurally but has a longer duration of action than morphine and can be administrated sublingually as an analgesic. In October 2002, FDA approved the use of a buprenorphine monotherapy product, Subutex, and a buprenorphine/naloxone combination product, Suboxone, for the treatment of opioid addiction. Subutex and Suboxone are the first narcotic drugs available under the US Drug Act (DATA) of 2003 for the treatment of opiate dependence that can be prescribed in the US in a physician’s work place. It has also been shown that buprenorphine has abuse potential and may itself cause dependency. In addition, a number of deaths have been recorded as a result of overdose with intravenously injected buprenorphine in conjunction with other psychotropic drugs such as benzodiazepines. Buprenorphine is metabolized primarily by n-dealkylation to form glucuronide-buprenorphine and glucuronide norbuprenorphine.

The Cortez Diagnostics,Inc. Buprenorphine RapiCard™ Rapid Test is based on the principle of specific immunochemical reaction between antibodies and antigens to analyze particular compounds in human urine specimen. The assay relies on the competition for binding antibody between drug conjugate and free drug which may be present in the urine specimen being tested. When drug is present in the urine specimen, it competes with drug conjugate for the limited amount of antibody-dye conjugate. When the amount of drug is equal or more than the cut-off, 10 ng/ml, it will prevent the binding of drug conjugate to the antibody. Therefore, a positive urine specimen will not show a colored band on the test line zone, indicating a positive result, while the presence of a colored band indicates a negative result. A control line is present in the test window to work as procedural control. This colored band should always appear on the control line zone if the test device is stored in good condition and the test is performed appropriately.