Mitigating Medication Tampering and Diversion via Real-Time Intravenous Opioid Quantification

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Opioid tampering and diversion present significant risks in hospital settings, leading to potential patient harm.
• The opioid crisis necessitates enhanced security measures for pain management and anesthesia medications like fentanyl and morphine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an electrochemical sensor system for real-time, in-line verification of administered opioids.
• To mitigate opioid diversion and tampering by analyzing drugs before patient administration.

Main Methods:

• An electrochemical-based sensor coupled with a miniaturized wireless potentiostat was designed for intravenous (IV) monitoring.
• The system was tested for performance metrics including pH, temperature, interference, reproducibility, and long-term stability.
• Real-time fluidic measurements and a machine-learning algorithm were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• The sensor system achieved limits of detection of 1.26 µg/mL for fentanyl and 2.75 µg/mL for morphine.
• The device demonstrated robust performance across various environmental conditions and long-term stability (>1 month).
• An ultra-low power consumption (36 µA sleep mode) enabled extended battery life.

Conclusions:

• The developed electrochemical sensor offers a viable solution for real-time opioid monitoring in IV administration.
• This technology can significantly enhance patient safety by preventing opioid tampering and diversion.
• The system's miniaturization, wireless capability, and low power consumption make it suitable for clinical use.