detection of Desmethylcitalopram in urine at a cut-off
concentration of 500ng/ml. This test will detect other related
compounds.
This assay provides only a qualitative, preliminary analytical test
result. A more specific alternate chemical method must be used in
order to obtain a confirmed analytical result.Gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is the preferred
confirmatory method.
Clinical consideratio an professional judgment should be applied to
any drug of abuse test result, particularly when preliminary
positive results are used.
PRINCIPLE
The CIT Rapid Test Cassette (Urine) is an immunoassay based on the
principle of competitive binding. Drugs which may be present in the
urine specimen compete against the drug conjugate for binding sites
on the antibody. During testing, a urine specimen migrates upward
by capillary action. Desmethylcitalopram, if present in the urine
specimen below the cut-off level, will not saturate the binding
sites of the antibody in the test. The antibody coated particles
will then be captured by immobilized Citalopram-protein conjugate
and a visible colored line will show up in the test line region.
The colored line will not form in the test line region if the
Desmethylcitalopram level exceeds the cut-off level, because it
will saturate all the binding sites of anti-citalopram antibody.
A drug-positive urine specimen will not generate a colored line in
the test line region because of drug competition, while a
drug-negative urine specimen or a specimen containing a drug
concentration less than the cut-off will generate a line in the
test line region. To serve as a procedural control, a colored line
will always appear at the control line region indicating that
proper volume of specimen has been added and membrane wicking has
occurred.
PRECAUTIONS
- For professional in vitro diagnostic use only.
- Do not use after the expiration date.
- The test should remain in the sealed pouch until use.
- All specimens should be considered potentially hazardous and
handled in the same manner as an infectious agent.
- The used test should be discarded according to local regulations.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Allow the test, urine specimen, and/or controls to reach room
temperature (15-30C)
prior to testing.
1. Bring the pouch to room temperature before opening it. Remove
the test cassette from the sealed pouch and use it within one hour
2. Place the cassette on a clean and level surface. Hold the
dropper vertically and transfer 3 full drops of urine (approx.
120ul) to the specimen well(S) of the cassette, and then start the
timer. Avoid trapping air bubbles in the specimen well(S).
3. Wait for the colored line(s) to appear. Read results at 5
minutes. Do not interpret the result after 10 minutes.
SUMMARY
Citalopram, an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) type, is only available as a racemic drug. Its
metabolism occurs, partially, by N-demethylation to
demethylcitalopram (DCIT) and didemethylcitalopram (DDCIT), but
also by deamination to a propionic acid derivative (CIT-PROP) and
by N-oxidation to CIT-N-oxide (NO-CIT) [1] . CIT has equal affinity
for 5-HTT and dopamine transporters [2] . Studies have shown that
compared with healthy subjects, the binding potential of thalamus
and brainstem binding area in patients with depression who take
20-60 mg citalopram every day is reduced by 50% .
It is supplied as the free base in 20 mg tablets oral
administration; daily oral dose for adults usually range from 20-60
mg. The common adverse reactions were nausea, dry mouth and
drowsiness. The rare adverse reactions were agitation, income and
anxiety. The oral bioavailability of citalopram is about 80%. 15%
of citalopram is excreted by kidney, and 12%-23% of citalopram in
daily dose is excreted in original form from urine.
