Sweat testing of MDMA with the Drugwipe analytical device: a controlled study with two volunteers

Rapid on-site tests for the analysis of drugs of abuse in unconventional specimens (e.g., sweat) have recently been developed. Two healthy volunteers familiar with the effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) were given 100 mg of the drug as a single oral dose. MDMA and its main metabolite 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) were determined in plasma and urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). MDMA was also investigated in sweat with the Drugwipe (an immunochemical strip test). Subjects' armpits were swabbed for 10 s at 0 time (predose) and at 2, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after MDMA administration. MDMA consumption could be detected using Drugwipe at 2 h and for as long as 12 h after drug administration. However, in one of the volunteers, a faint color change appeared at 0 time, when plasma and urine tested negative for MDMA and did not disappear even 48 h later. Plasma concentrations of MDMA and HMMA measured by GC-MS peaked at 2-4 h, and values greater than 20 ng/mL for MDMA and of 40 ng/mL for HMMA were still detected at 24 h. Urine tested positive by GC-MS for MDMA and HMMA in the 48-h collection period. These findings preliminarily support sweat testing with Drugwipe for monitoring MDMA use.