Improved cost effective thin-layer detection techniques for routine surveillance of commonly abused drugs in drug abuse urine screening and proficiency testing programs with built-in quality assurance.

Improved, sensitive, reliable and cost effective thin-layer detection procedures for poly-drug usage (12-15 drug evaluations per specimen) are presented. Extraction procedures using ion-exchange resin loaded paper and liquid-liquid extraction with the built-in quality assurance program are reported. The combined use of ninhydrin-fluorescamine detection reagent for the identification of various central nervous system stimulants is only one of the several modifications and improvements made during the past 14 years.

Qualitative detection of placidyl (ethchlorvynol) alone or in combination with poly-drugs in drug abuse urine screening programs using ion-exchange paper and/or liquid-liquid extraction.

Two procedures for the detection of ethchlorvynol are presented. Procedure I involves the use of SA-2-cation-exchange resin loaded paper. The use of multiple ion-exchange resin papers is proposed in a sequence that enables the detection of amphetamines, barbiturates, phenothiazines, propoxyphene (Darvon), phencyclidine, cocaine (benzoyl ecgonine), pentazocine (Talwin) and benzodiazepines in addition to ethchlorvynol.