A small testing kit that delivers results in just 15 minutes is now at the centre of Telangana’s response to rising substance abuse, especially in Hyderabad, with doctors at Gandhi Hospital using multi-drug urine screening to quickly detect and initiate treatment for patients.
The testing unit, roughly the size of a small handheld box, contains multiple vertical strips, each calibrated to identify a specific substance. Labels on the panel correspond to drugs such as amphetamines, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, opioids, cocaine, cannabis, and barbiturates, among others, allowing clinicians to screen for up to 12 substances simultaneously.
The test operates on a simple visual system. Each strip displays a control line to indicate validity. If both the control line and the test line appear, the result is negative. However, if the test line disappears and only the control line remains visible, it signals the presence of that particular drug. Doctors said this mechanism allows for quick interpretation, often within 15 minutes, making it particularly useful in emergency settings.
The introduction of such rapid screening comes amid increasing instances of drug use and intensified anti-narcotics raids across Hyderabad and surrounding areas.
