Gab Ibis

Researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila have unveiled a groundbreaking Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) device, E-Tox-NPS, designed to detect new psychoactive substances (NPS), commonly known as or “designer drugs,” using urine samples.


These substances include ketamine, synthetic cannabinoids, and synthetic cathinones, according to a UP Manila news release.

Dr. Ailyn Yabes, lead scientist and inventor, highlighted the lack of screening kits for NPS in the Philippines, noting that current local tests are limited to traditional illicit drugs like amphetamines and cannabinoids.

“The ETox-NPS would be very useful because there is no POCT screening kit for NPS available for use in the Philippines,” Yabes said.

NPS are substances of abuse not controlled by international drug conventions, but may pose serious public health risks, as described by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as 

These substances mimic the effects of controlled drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), ecstasy, and methamphetamine.

While the E-Tox-NPS provides an initial test for NPS detection, Yabes reiterated the need for more specific and sensitive methods to confirm the presence of these substances in urine samples.

“Having a diagnostic test that would indicate the presence of a certain pharmaceutical or a certain drug would definitely aid in either ruling in or ruling out the offending agent,” Yabes added.

Yabes and her team also developed another device, E-Tox Phx, which detects non-accidental poisoning from pharmaceutical drugs such as paracetamol, isoniazid, and salicylates (aspirin poisoning).

Both devices have undergone validation, demonstrating acceptable performance in various testing parameters, said Cesar Perez Jr, director of the UP Manila Information, Publication, and Public Affairs Office.

“[Both] demonstrated acceptable performance characteristics in terms of limit of detection, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values according to industry standards,” Perez said.