Low-cost urine test strips for measuring medication levels in substance use disorders
Official title: Field-Deployable, low-Cost Point-of-Need urine test strips for mobile quantification of SUD medication drugs and their metabolites
Funded at Vitan-Biotech, LLC · NIH-10984329 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating an easy-to-use, affordable urine test strip that helps people with substance use disorders check their medication levels at home in just ten minutes, making it simpler for them to stay on track with their treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vitan-Biotech, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $293,468 |
| NIH project number | 1R43DA061396-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10984329 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals undergoing treatment for substance use disorders who are prescribed medications like buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing treatment for substance use disorders or those not prescribed the relevant medications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a low-cost, disposable urine test strip that can quickly and accurately measure the levels of medications used to treat substance use disorders, such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. The test strips are designed for easy use without special training, providing results in just ten minutes. By utilizing innovative technology to enhance detection sensitivity, these strips will allow patients to monitor their medication compliance and metabolism conveniently at home or in low-resource settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with a simple and affordable way to monitor their medication levels, improving treatment adherence and outcomes for substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using low-cost, point-of-use test strips is innovative, similar technologies have shown promise in other areas of medical diagnostics, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Vitan-Biotech, LLC
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Xichun — Vitan-Biotech, LLC
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Xichun
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.