A more specific alternative chemical method must be used in order to obtain a confirmed analytical result. Amphetamines are central nervous stimulants that cause the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine to be released into the brain and body giving users feelings of euphoria, alertness, and increased energy. Chronic abuse of amphetamine leads to tolerance and drug reinforcement effect. Cardiovascular responses to amphetamine include increased blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias.
More acute responses produce anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations and psychotic behavior.
Amphetamine is metabolized by a number of pathways. In general, acid urine promotes excretion whereas alkaline urine retards it. The detectability period following drug use depends on several factors, including the frequency and amount of drug, metabolic rate, excretion rate, drug half-life, and the drug user s age, weight, activity, and diet. The UA-Screen Instant Amphetamines Test is based on the principle of specific immunochemical reaction between antibodies and antigens. The assay relies on the competition for binding antibody between drug conjugate and free drug, which may be present in the urine specimen.