Hemp Synergistics, LLC formed a partnership with the forensic scientists at Purdue University Northwest’s Center for Crime, Forensics, and Security Analysis. After a year of research, development, and testing, the teams have developed a THC Rapid Field Test Kit that gives law enforcement an easy-to-use tool to distinguish hemp from marijuana in less than five minutes.
The scientists at Purdue Northwest and Hemp Synergistics devised innovative improvements to existing lab technologies to create a field-ready application. Built from the ground up, the disposable field test kit test is based on the mechanism of an existing chemistry test used in the Duquenois–Levine reagent test. The scientists used novel modifications such as replacing certain activator chemicals with safe ingredients that minimize exposure while remaining readily deployable. The field test, named TRU (THC Recognition Units), utilizes a colorimetric panel -- much like a pH test -- that provides an identification and semi-quantitation of Delta-9 THC and Delta-9 THCA. Each test costs approximately $14 dollars -- compared to the hundreds or thousands of dollars for crime lab testing.
The product has been rigorously tested at Purdue University Northwest, which follows industry standards for method development and validation.
