The THC Rapid Test Strip (Urine) has been designed to detect the THC metabolites through visual interpretation of color development in the internal strip. The membrane
was immobilized with THC conjugates on the test region, and the sample pad was pre-coated with colored anti-THC metabolites antibodies colloidal gold conjugates.
After specimens were added, the gold-conjugates move along the membrane
chromatographically by capillary action and antibodies get to the test region. If there is no
drug molecule in the urine the antibody gold conjugate would attach to the drug conjugate
to form a visible line. Therefore, the formation of a visible precipitant in the test region
occurs when the urine is negative for the drug. If THC metabolites are present in the
urine, the drug antigen competes with the immobilized drug conjugate on the test region
for limited antibody sites. In case of sufficient concentration of the drug, it fills the limited
antibody binding sites. This will prevent attachment of the colored antibody-colloidal gold
conjugate to the drug conjugate zone on the test region. Therefore,absence of the colored band on the test region indicates a positive result. Appearance of a colored band
at the control region serves as a procedural control. This indicates that proper volume of
specimen has been added and membrane wicking has occurred.