As medetomidine continues emerging in the illicit drug supply, harm reduction agencies and public health organizations need reliable tools to identify this potent α2-adrenergic sedative before it reaches people who use drugs. A new independent study from the University of Notre Dame, Chiral Sensitivity of Medetomidine Lateral Flow Immunoassay Test Strips, provides a detailed scientific comparison of commercially available medetomidine test strips, including BTNX’s Rapid Response® Medetomidine Test Strips.
Medetomidine exists as two mirror-image forms:
- Dexmedetomidine, which is pharmacologically active and responsible for sedative effects
- Levomedetomidine, which is pharmacologically inactive
In real-world drug checking, the primary concern is detecting sedative activity, regardless of whether the source is racemic medetomidine or diverted dexmedetomidine. A test strip that does not properly account for chirality may therefore yield misleading results, including false negatives for dexmedetomidine-only samples.
The study examined seven lots of medetomidine test strips from two manufacturers, assessing:
- Response to dexmedetomidine, levomedetomidine, and racemic medetomidine
- Performance across different water types and temperatures
- Lot-to-lot variability
- Cross-reactivity with structurally related compounds and common adulterant
BTNX’s reformulated Rapid Response® Medetomidine Test Strips (Medetomidine 2.0) demonstrated experimentally observed detection limits ranging approximately from 500 to 2000 ng/mL, depending on water quality and testing temperature. Performance was most consistent when samples were prepared in purified water and evaluated at temperatures of 25 °C or below. In cross-reactivity testing, BTNX’s Rapid Response® Medetomidine Test Strips showed no false positives with xylazine, while detomidine, a structurally related veterinary sedative, produced positive results across all tested strips. At high concentrations, levamisole produced faint test lines that may be misinterpreted as false positives.
Different chiral recognition strategies exist for Medetomidine Test Strips
It is possible that some medetomidine test strips require both enantiomers to be present in order to generate a positive result, while other lots respond to dexmedetomidine alone. These differences reflect underlying antibody selection and assay design choices.
Given this variability, manufacturers have a responsibility to clearly disclose the assay’s calibration target and recognition mechanism, and to maintain consistency in test strip formulation, so that users can correctly interpret results and make informed decisions in harm reduction settings.
BTNX’s reformulated Rapid Response® Medetomidine Test Strips (Medetomidine 2.0) can detect dexmedetomidine directly
The study confirmed that newer production lots of BTNX’s Rapid Response® Medetomidine Test Strips were reformulated to selectively recognize dexmedetomidine. As a result, these strips produced positive results when dexmedetomidine was present alone and also detected racemic medetomidine due to its dexmedetomidine content.
The study further suggests that a chiral sensitivity profile capable of detecting both racemic medetomidine and dexmedetomidine is better suited for harm reduction applications, where the primary objective is to identify sedative exposure rather than to characterize enantiomeric composition.
As the drug supply continues to evolve, modern tools, backed by extensive research, are essential to effectively assess risk. This study underscores the value of transparency, ongoing evaluation, and iterative improvement in harm reduction technologies.
BTNX remains committed to working with researchers, public health partners, and community organizations to ensure that Rapid Response® harm reduction test strips reflect current scientific understanding and real-world needs, especially when the chemistry of emerging adulterants presents new analytical challenges.
Rapid Response® Medetomidine Test Strips offer:
- Reliable detection for liquid and/or powder substances: For detecting dexmedetomidine, an active isomer and a growing concern in the illicit supply.
- Continuous scientific improvement: BTNX rapidly refines its products to meet evolving drug-market realities.
- Low test sensitivity and fast results: Detects medetomidine and its related compounds at a low concentrations of 1000ng/mL, providing clear results in just 60 seconds.
- Easy and more precise testing: Each individually pouched test strips conveniently includes microscoops.
- Market-leaders in harm reduction: BTNX is a recognized manufacturer since 2011 and is the largest provider of fentanyl test strips in North America.
- Trusted by communities and public health partners: With some of the most studied and reviewed test strips on the market, many state and provincial public health authorities have adopted Rapid Response® test strips as part of harm reduction strategies to educate users, support informed decision-making, and risk-reduction efforts.
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