In a "breakthrough", scientists have developed a rapid and highly sensitive fingerprint test that can detect whether someone has used cocaine within seconds. The new non-invasive technique developed by researchers, including those from a University in Surrey, UK, which can pick up traces of cocaine, even after the subjects have washed their hands." Our results show the technique was 99 per cent effective in detecting cocaine use among the patients," said the lead researcher. The team used chromatography paper to take fingerprint sample as part of a technique known as paper spray mass spectrometry.
Researchers took fingerprints from a group of patients seeking treatment at drug rehabilitation centres, as well as a larger group not known to be drug users. All of those taking part washed their hands before the test in a variety of ways, and then samples were collected on the prepared…
