Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry confirmation of Cozart RapiScan saliva methadone and opiates tests

The object of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Cozart RapiScan onsite saliva test for methadone and opiates versus laboratory-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmation. Fifty saliva specimens were obtained from 28 volunteers among persons entering a substance abuse clinic. Specimens were tested onsite using the Cozart RapiScan Saliva test and Cozart RapiScan Reader. Specimens were retested by Cozart Microplate EIA assays on receipt at the laboratory and then frozen for later confirmation by GC-MS. For GC-MS, deuterated internal standards were added to specimen aliquots which were extracted using solid-phase columns at pH 6 and eluted with dichloromethane/isopropanol/ammonia (80:19:2). The dry residues were derivatized with PFOH and PFPA and dried, and the reconstituted extract was injected and quantitated by GC-MS. The Cozart RapiScan Methadone Saliva Assay was found to have a sensitivity and specificity of 100%±12% versus GC-MS (2-ng/ml cutoff) and a sensitivity of 100%±11% and a specificity of 95%±2.4% versus the Microplate EIA for methadone (30-ng/mL cutoff). The Cozart RapiScan Saliva Opiate test bad a sensitivity of 100%±12% and a specificity of 92%±3.2% versus GC-MS (2-ng/mL cutoff) and a sensitivity of 96%±2.2% and specificity of 95%±2.4% versus the Microplate EIA for opiates (30-ng/mL cutoff).