Aspects and embodiments relate to apparatus and methods to identify whether a
drug is present in a provided sample. One aspect provides a
drug detection method to identify whether a
drug is present in a provided sample, the method comprising: determining a first
fluorescence spectral matrix associated with the provided sample by: excitation of the provided sample at a first
excitation wavelength; and receiving a
fluorescence emission spectrum generated by the provided sample at the first
excitation wavelength; repeating the excitation and receiving steps across a range of excitation wavelengths which differ from the first
excitation wavelength; determining a
wavelength for
irradiation of the sample to induce a photochemical change in the provided sample and irradiating the provided sample with
radiation having the determined
wavelength; determining a second
fluorescence spectral matrix associated with the provided sample by: excitation of the provided sample at a first excitation
wavelength; and receiving a fluorescence
emission spectrum generated by the provided sample at the first excitation wavelength; repeating the excitation and receiving steps across a range of excitation wavelengths which differ from the first excitation wavelength; comparing the determined first and second fluorescence spectral matrix associated with the provided sample with a
library of first and second fluorescence spectral matrices obtained from a plurality of drug samples; and if a match within a predetermined threshold is revealed by said comparison, triggering a positive identification of a drug in the provided sample. Aspects recognise that the
rapid detection of certain drugs can be enhanced by augmenting a fluorescence spectral
fingerprint based detection methodology with photochemical reactivity tracking. The
hybrid photochemical fingerprinting methodology in accordance with aspects allows for capture of information on both: new fluorescent species that emerge as a result of a specifically induced photochemical reaction(s) notable detectable drugs, but also the loss of fluorescent / absorptive species as they are photochemically degraded. Both such physical changes are reflective of the specific
chemistry of the
analyte (drug) which is being tested for.