In development since 2001, Phillips is ready to finally unveil it’s Roadside Dope Tester.  This “handheld electronic device..uses magnetic nanoparticles to screen for five major recreational drugs.”  Those drugs include cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.  Obviously this is meant to be used by law enforcement to ensure the safety of drivers on the road.  The tech inside this futuristic gizmdo is interesing; it uses a person’s saliva to determine if he or she is under the influence of one of those five drugs.

[It] includes a disposable plastic cartridge and a handheld analyzer.  The cartridge has two components: a sample collector for gathering saliva and a measurement chamber containing magnetic nanoparticles. The particles are coated with ligands that bind to one of [the] five different drug groups.  Once the device’s sample collector has absorbed enough saliva, it automatically changes color and can then be snapped into the measurement chamber, where the saliva and nanoparticles mix. An electromagnet speeds the nanoparticles to the sensor surface, different portions of which have been pretreated with one of the five target-drug molecules. If traces of any of the five drugs are present in the sample, the nanoparticles will bind to them. If the sample is drug free, the nanoparticles will bind to the drug-coated sensor surface instead.

Watch out, druggies!  The law has crazy cool technology on its side.

[Via Gizmodo; Technology Review]