Rapid (MTD) Methadone Drug Test (Strip) description:

The Methadone Drug Test (MTD Drug Test), or the Cortez Diagnostics, Inc. DOA (Drug of Abuse) test, is an immunochromatography based one step in vitro test. These methadone drug testing kits are designed for qualitative determination of methadone drug substances in human urine specimens. This assay may be used in the point of care setting.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid, clinically available. The methadone drug is used clinically for the treatment of severe pain and in maintenance programs for morphine and heroine addicts. The Methadone drug acts on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems to produce respiratory and circulatory depression. The Methadone drug also produces miosis and increases the tone of smooth muscle in the lower gastrointestinal tract while decreasing the amplitude of contractions. Acute higher doses of the methadone drug induce analgesia, sedation, respiratory depression and coma. After methadone administration, the major urinary excretion products are methadone and its metabolites, EDDP and EMDP. Large individual variations in the urine excretion of the methadone drug are output of methadone from 5-22%. Typically, following a 5 mg oral dose, the methadone drug and EDDP account for 5% of the dose in the 24-hour urine. In those individuals on maintenance therapy, the methadone drug may account for 5 to 50% of the dose in the 24-hour urine and EDDP may account for 3 to 25% of the dose.

The Methadone Drug Testing device is based on the principle of specific immunochemical reaction between antibodies and antigens to analyze particular compounds in human urine specimen. The assay relies on the competition for binding antibody between drug conjugate and free drug which may be present in the urine specimen being tested. When the Methadone drug is present in the urine specimen, it competes with drug conjugate for the limited amount of antibody-dye conjugate. When the amount of the methadone drug is equal or more than the cutoff, it will prevent the binding of drug conjugate to the antibody. Therefore, a positive urine specimen on the Methadone Drug Test will not show a colored band on the test line zone, indicating a positive result, while the presence of a colored band indicates a negative result. This colored band should always appear on the control line zone if the Methadone drug testing device is stored in good condition and the Methadone drug test is performed appropriately.

These rapid diagnostic tests provide only a preliminary analytical test result. A more specific alternative chemical method must be used in order to obtain a confirmed analytical result. Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been established as the preferred confirmatory method by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Clinical consideration and professional judgment should be applied to any drug of abuse test result, particularly when preliminary positive results are indicated.

The optional built-in Adulteration Test is for validation of urine specimen’s integrity and must not be used for In Vitro diagnostic use. The cutoff level for this Methadone Drug Test (MTD Drug Test) is 300 ng/ml of methadone. For customized cutoff level methadone drug tests, please contact Customer Service. This Methadone Drug Test (MTD Drug Test) is available in multi-panel, cassette, strip, or cup format.