Radioimmunoassays of drugs of abuse in humans: a review.

Only recently has radioimmunoassay been used for the detection of drugs of abuse in body fluids. While conventional assay methods are time-consuming, relatively insensitive, and require a larger sample volume, the radioimmunoassay method is rapid, sensitive, specific, and can be performed with a minimum of sample. Performance of individual assays is identical, and requires about 1 hour to complete. Herein are reviewed the radioimmunoassays which have been developed for measurement of drugs of abuse in humans. These new techniques are of importance in screening and in further research into the effect of these drugs on the functions of the human body.