TalTech and SafePAS develop rapid portable drug-detection device

Researchers from Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and the startup SafePAS have developed a portable device known as the ‘Drug Hunter’ or ‘Narcometer’ that can identify narcotic substances and their exact quantities in approximately 15 minutes.

Using capillary electrophoresis technology, the device aims to provide laboratory-level accuracy outside of a clinical setting. This is intended to assist police, ambulance crews, and event organizers, particularly when dealing with substances that degrade quickly in the body, such as GHB.

While previous testing has been conducted in cooperation with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, developers are now looking toward making the device smaller and more accessible for private use, such as saliva-based tests for individuals who suspect they have been drugged.