The Pan Probe Biotech, Inc., LiveSure^TM MDMA (Ecstasy) Screen Test is an in vitro diagnostic (IVD), qualitative, lateral flow, immunochromatographic urinary assay for the rapid detection of MDMA and its metabolites in human urine at the cut-off level of 500 ng/ml.  3, 4-methylenedioxy-n-methamphetamine (MDMA) is a psychoactive, neurotoxic hallucinogen structurally related to methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), mescaline, methamphetamine and amphetamine.  Though the drug is known for both for a rapid sense of exhilaration and its ability to relax users and create a sense of emotional closeness, short-term effects of MDMA use include confusion, severe anxiety, paranoia, depression, muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching and tightening of the jaw, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, loss of depth perception, faintness, dilated pupils, dry mouth and throat, epileptic fit, irritability, poor concentration, forgetfulness and exhaustion.  Long-term effects can include mood changes, disrupted sleep patterns, depression and psychosis.  Some research suggests that even a few doses of the drug can cause permanent damage to cognitive functions such as learning and memory.   MDMA destroys serotonin-producing neurons in the brain.  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation, body temperature regulation and memory.  Increased heart rate and hyperthermia due to MDMA use can lead to severe dehydration and heat exhaustion, muscle breakdown, hypertension, cardiovascular and kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes.  This holds special risks for people with pre-existing circulatory or heart disease.  Some MDMA-related deaths have been recorded as due to altered core body temperatures of up to 109°F.  The drug has also been known to cause liver damage.  Alcohol potentiates the mental and physical side-effects of MDMA use because of its depressant and diuretic properties.  Additional precautions in the use of MDMA are its potential effect on ability to drive a vehicle as well as its potential misuse as a “date-rape” drug and the associated sexually transmitted diseases.  The LiveSure^TM MDMA (Ecstasy) Screen Test is a competitive immunoassay in which chemically modified and bound MDMA conjugate competes with urinary MDMA and its metabolites for limited, specific MDMA antibody binding sites.  Each test device contains a sample reaction unit, a pink-colored, antibody-colloidal gold conjugate unit pre-labeled with specific antibody, and a chromatographic membrane pre-coated with drug conjugate in the device test region.

NOTE: MDMA is known as a “Club Drug.”  While MDMA can be taken via injection, inhalation or rectally, it is most commonly taken orally in the form of a pill.  This makes it very easy for drug makers to imitate the look of MDMA using other club drugs and unrelated substances.  In addition, MDMA is often sold as a mixture with various impurities that can be potentially hazardous.  While the LiveSure^TM MDMA (Ecstasy) Screen Test can detect the presence of the structurally related methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and mehylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), the test will not detect other potential drug impurities such as paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA), methamphetamine, ketamine, dextromorphan (DXM), LSD and PCP, and will not detect other known impurities such as caffeine, ephedrine and lactose.  The MDMA rapid test will not detect the presence of the structurally related amphetamine.