(image: Pixabay)
DAEJEON, April 5 (Korea Bizwire) — New technology has been developed that makes it easier to detect gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a drug abused for sexual crimes.
A joint research team from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and the Korea Institute of Toxicology said Monday that it had developed a new gel that changes color in reaction to GHB.
GHB is a central nervous system depressant with no odor, color and taste. Since most of its ingredients leave the body six hours after being consumed, it’s difficult to be detected unless urine or blood is collected right after a sexual assault.
The research team developed a new hemocyanin-based chemical compound that changes color when it reacts to GHB, and is produced in in a hydrogel format.
The new gel is yellow under normal conditions, but if it is mixed with liquor or beverage containing GHB, the color of liquor or beverage turns into red in about ten seconds.
The gel reacts to a density of 1 microgram per 1 milliliter, a level where GHB impacts the human body.
When the change of color cannot be easily identified with bare eyes since the amount of GHB is too small, it can be checked through a smartphone application.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
