Accuracy of the Securetec DrugWipe 6s Ketamine device in detecting acute and residual salivary ketamine following a stepwise intravenous treatment protocol

Abstract

To evaluate the sensitivity of the Securetec DrugWipe 6 S Ketamine device in detecting salivary ketamine, we administered three fixed, increasing sub-anaesthetic doses of intravenous ketamine solution to 20 participants using an open-label, within subjects’ protocol. Results indicated, at a cut-off level of 5 ng/mL for ketamine in oral fluid, the Securetec DrugWipe 6 S Ketamine device indicated a uniformly positive result for the presence of ketamine during the acute dosing phase where corresponding mean whole blood ketamine concentrations were 0.38 mg/L (dose 1), 0.48 mg/L (dose 2) and 0.82 mg/L (dose 3), respectively. At 2-hours post treatment, the positive detection rate was 85% where corresponding mean whole blood concentrations of ketamine were 0.21 mg/L. Device detection rate reduced to 40% at 4-hours post-treatment.

RÉsumÉ

Afin d’évaluer la sensibilité de l’appareil Securetec DrugWipe 6S Ketamine à détecter la kétamine salivaire, nous avons administré à 20 participants, par intraveineuse, trois doses fixes et croissantes sous-anesthésique de solution kétamine selon un protocole ouvert à mesures répétées. Les résultats ont démontré, avec une limite de détection de 5 ng/ml pour la kétamine dans le liquide buccal, que l’appareil Securetec DrugWipe 6S Ketamine identifie uniformément un résultat positif pour la présence de kétamine dans la période aiguë de dosage avec une concentration moyenne respective de kétamine dans le sang de 0,38 mg/L (dose 1), 0,48 mg/L (dose 2) et 0,82 mg/L (dose 3). Deux heures après le traitement, le taux de détection positif était de 85 % alors que la concentration moyenne respective de kétamine dans le sang était de 0,21 mg/L. Le taux de détection de l’appareil est réduit à 40 % quatre heures après le traitement.

Keywords:

• Ketamine
• Securetec DrugWipe 6 S Ketamine
• saliva
• oral fluid
• blood

Mots clÉs:

• Kétamine
• Securetec DrugWipe 6S Ketamine
• salive
• liquide buccal
• sang

Disclosure statement

Dr Green, Mrs Kostakis, Dr Keane, Prof Shehabi and Prof Con Stough declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Role of the funding source

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. In-kind support, in the form of the Securetec DrugWipe 6 S devices, was provided by Securetec Detektions-Systeme AG (Germany) and their Australian distributor, Pathtech.

Securetec Detektions-Systeme AG (Germany) nor their Australian distributor, Pathtech had any role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Contributors

A. C. Hayley, L. A Downey, M. Green, Y. Shehabi, M. Keane and C. K. K. Stough were responsible for the study design, data collection, data analysis and interpretation of results. P. Kostakis was responsible for the biological analysis; including all analytical procedures. All authors were involved in drafting the article and in critically revising the document prior to submission.

Additional information

Funding

Dr Amie Hayley is supported by an NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) Peter Doherty Biomedical Early Career Research Fellowship (GNT1119960). A/Prof Downey is supported by an NHMRC R.D. Wright Biomedical Career Development Fellowship (CDF: 2017-2020).