| Name | Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) Rapid Test (Strip/cassette) |
| Category Name | Drug Tests |
| Test | 25 or 50 tests |
| Cut-Off | 1000 ng/ml |
The TCA Rapid Test (Urine) is a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay for the detection of Nortriptyline in human urine at a cut-off concentration of 1,000 ng/mL.
Materials Provided with TCA drug Rapid Test kit:
1. TCA Test Device
The test contains anti-Tricyclic Antidepressants particles and Tricyclic Antidepressants conjugate coated on the membrane. A goat antibody is employed in the control line system.
2. Instructions for use
Materials required, not Provided:
1. Urine collection container
2. Timer or clock
TCA Rapid Test kit Background Information
TCA (Tricyclic Antidepressants) are commonly used for the treatment of depressive disorders. TCA overdoses can result in profound central nervous system depression, cardiotoxicity and anticholinergic effects. TCA overdose is the most common cause of death from prescription drugs. TCAs are taken orally and sometimes by injection. TCAs are metabolized in the liver, both TCAs and their metabolites are excreted in urine mostly in the form of metabolites for up to ten days.
The TCA Rapid Test (Urine) is a rapid urine-screening test that can be performed without the use of an instrument. The test utilizes a monoclonal antibody to selectively detect elevated levels of Nortriptyline in urine. The TCA Rapid Test (Urine) yields a positive result when the Nortriptyline in urine exceeds 1,000 ng/mL.
TCA drug Rapid Test Principle
The TCA Rapid Test is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay based on the principle of competitive binding. Drugs which may be present in the urine specimen compete against the drug conjugate for binding sites on the antibody.
During testing, a urine specimen migrates upward by capillary action. Tricyclic Antidepressants, if present in the urine specimen below the cut-off level, will not saturate the binding sites of the antibody coated particles in the test. The antibodies coated particles will then be captured by immobilized Tricyclic Antidepressants conjugate and a visible colored line will show up in the test line region. The colored line will not form in the test line region if the Tricyclic Antidepressants level exceeds the cut-off level because it will saturate all the binding sites of anti-Tricyclic Antidepressants antibodies.
A drug-positive urine specimen will not generate a colored line in the test line region because of drug competition, while a drug-negative urine specimen will generate a line in the test line region because of the absence of drug competition. To serve as a procedural control, a colored line will always appear at the control line region indicating that proper volume of specimen has been added and membrane wicking has occurred.