Presumptive tests for xylazine-a computer vision approach

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Chang, Hui Yun and Donnachie, Kristin and McCabe, Timothy J.D. and Barrington, Henry and Carlysle-Davies, Felicity and Ceniccola-Campos, Kristin and Reid, Marc (2025) Presumptive tests for xylazine-a computer vision approach. Analytical Science Advances. ISSN 2628-5452 (In Press) (https://doi.org/10.1002/ansa.70008)

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Abstract

Abuse of xylazine is an immediate global public health concern. We report the distinct and measurable colour changes when xylazine is exposed to the Mandelin, Marquis, and Mecke presumptive test reagents. The colour changes observed with xylazine are distinct from those of drugs that give colour changes from the same presumptive tests. To overcome the subjective limitations of determining spot test results by-eye,we applied image and video analyses to quantify the distinctive features of presumptive tests with xylazine and thus differentiate it from other illicit substances tested under the same conditions, including morphine, fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Herein, experimental protocols utilising Kineticolor, a computer vision software, were developed to qualitatively and quantitatively study presumptive tests for xylazine detection. To the best of our knowledge, these findings represent the first resumptive test strategy towards specific, quantifiable, and potentially field-ready detection of xylazine.

ORCID iDs

Chang, Hui Yun, Donnachie, Kristin, McCabe, Timothy J.D. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2524-0513, Barrington, Henry ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2978-670X, Carlysle-Davies, Felicity ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2256-796X, Ceniccola-Campos, Kristin ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2506-0750 and Reid, Marc ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4394-3132;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)