The TCA One Step Tricyclic Antidepressants Test Strip (Urine) is a lateral flow chromatographic immuno assay for the detection of Nortriptyline at a cut-off concentration of 1000 ng/mL. This test will detect other Tricyclic Antidepressants. Please refer to the Analytical Specificity table in the package insert. The TCA One Step Tricyclic Antidepressants Test Strip is a rapid urine-screening test that can be performed without the use of an instrument. The test utilizes the antibody to selectively detect elevated levels of Tricyclic Antidepressants in urine. The TCA One Step Tricyclic Antidepressants Test Strip yields a positive result when the Tricyclic Antidepressant in urine exceeds cut-off concentration.

About Tricyclic Antidepressants

TCA (Tricyclic Antidepressants) are commonly used for the treatment of depressive disorders. TCA overdoses can result in profound central nervous system depression, cardiotoxicity and anticholinergic effects. TCA overdose is the most common cause of death from prescription drugs. TCAs are taken orally or sometimes by injection. TCAs are metabolized in the liver. Both TCAs and their metabolites are excreted in urine mostly in the form of metabolites for up to ten days.

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Technical Specificity

The following table lists compounds that are positively detected in urine by the TCA. One Step Tricyclic Antidepressants Test Strip (Urine) at 5 minutes.

This test card 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) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the preferred confirmatory method. Clinical consideration and professional judgment should be applied to any drug of abuse test result, particularly when preliminary positive results are used. For more information, click here.