Kratom is a designer drug that originates from Mitragyna speciosa, an uncontrolled plant found in southeast Asia.
The designer drug has gained significant popularity in recent years due to its widespread availability on the Internet and in head shops.
The new ELISA developed by Randox Toxicology, UK, an immunoassay drug test for Kratom, provides a rapid solution for the detection of Mitragynine and its metabolites.
As with other designer drugs such as “spice” and “bath salts,” Kratom is marketed as a “legal high,” which can mislead users to believe that the drug is safe to use.
In fact, several cases of psychosis resulting from the use of Kratom have been reported, with individuals addicted to the drug exhibiting psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusion, and confusion.
Mitragynine and several related alkaloids naturally occur in the Mitragyna speciosa plant, creating psychoactive properties.
The ELISA developed by Randox Toxicology can detect Mitragynine and its metabolites; 9-O-Desmethylmitragynine, 7-alpha-Hydroxymitragynine and 7-alpha-Acetoxymitragynin in urine and blood specimens, providing information for further analysis.
[Source: Randox Toxicology]
