Handheld Narcotics Analyzer adds 19 Fentanyl Derivatives and More to Drug Detection Library
Tewksbury, Mass. - A new update for the Thermo Scientific TruNarc handheld narcotics analyzeradds 47 new substances, including 19 fentanyl derivatives, to the analyzer’s onboard library, providing law enforcement agents, narcotics officers and customs personnel with additional capabilities to counter the opioid epidemic. In addition to fentanyl derivatives, the new library update includes cathinone derivatives, cannabinoids and MDMA derivatives, and it brings the library’s total number of substances to more than 450.
The TruNarc analyzer, which debuted in 2012, is designed to allow users to quickly and accurately identify narcotics, precursors, cutting agents, painkillers and many emerging drug threats. The analyzer is designed to protect officers in the field, in many cases reducing the need for personnel to be exposed to unknown substances. Evolving illicit drug threats continue to bring new challenges to law enforcement officers. In April 2018, four states –Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Maryland – issued alerts related to the dangers of synthetic cannabinoid use in response to adverse reactions and deaths.
In 2017, Thermo Fisher added the synthetic opioid carfentanil to the TruNarc library. Previous library and software updates included the addition of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, W-18 and other powerful, deadly drugs.
New Library Additions
- Fentanyl Derivatives: The analyzer can now detect a total of 36 fentanyl derivatives, with the newest update including a-methoxyacetylfentanyl, 4-fluoroisobutyrfentanyl and 17 other derivatives.
- Cathinones and cannabinoids: The library update includes seven new cathinone derivatives, also known as “bath salts,” and six new cannabinoids.
- MDMA: The analyzer can now detect three derivatives of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, including 6-bromo-MDMA, 6-chloro-MDMA and t-BOC MDMA.
- Additional emerging threats: The analyzer can now detect t-BOC methamphetamine and t-BOC pseudoephedrine.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
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