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Immunoassay reagents intended to perform quantitative analyses of a sample of body fluids, (typically urine) to determine methamphetamine, a central nervous drug stimulant with little therapeutic use (e.g., treating narcolepsy). Methamphetamine produces an initial state of euphoria that creates a high potential for abuse. Reagents for methamphetamine determination are used to identify patients that have recently taken the drug; they cannot differentiate casual use from chronic drug abuse, degree of impairment, exact time of use, or dose of drug taken. Methamphetamine metabolizes partially as amphetamine; thus, a concurrent assay for amphetamines typically shows a concentration in urine that is approximately 10% that of methamphetamine. Immunoassays for methamphetamine have variable cross-reactivity with other sympathomimetic amines (e.g., ephedrine, pseudoephedrine), so confirmation of positive results are mandatory.
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