Drugs of abuse detection in meconium: a comparison between ELISA and biochip microarray

The results of meconium specimens and fortified samples screened for drugs of abuse by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, Immunalysis) and biochip microarray (Randox) methods were compared. The ELISA method was semi-automated using a TECAN Genesis. The Randox assay used the Randox Evidence Investigator system. Previously validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), GC-GC-MS, or liquid chromatography-MS-MS methods were used for confirmation and quantitation. Results from the two techniques compared well. Agreement of the Randox assay was greater than 90% when compared to the ELISA assay for all drug classes except cannabinoids (88%). Specificity of the biochip assay was slightly better for amphetamines and cocaine.