Cocaine Use Can Now Be Tested In Fingerprints Using Ambient Mass Spectrometry

hypnosec writes: A novel technique of detecting cocaine abuse through a simple fingerprint has been developed by researchers from the UK and the Netherlands, paving the way for a secure, non-invasive drug detection method. The research, led by University of Surrey and published in the journal Analyst, demonstrates for the first time that cocaine can be detected by the excreted metabolites – benzoylecgonine and methylecgonine – resulting from abuse of the drug. These chemicals are found in fingerprint residue, which the researchers detect using analytical chemistry technique known as ambient mass spectrometry.

Comments

Re:seems kinda pointless

[pitchpipe]

You just don't understand. This is the breakthrough we've been looking for to finally win this war on drugs.

It's only a matter of time now before 'Drugs' throws up the white flag.