Quick and easy urine test for detecting fentanyl
Official title: Rapid, Instrument-free and High Sensitivity Over-the-counter Urine Fentanyl Testing
Funded at Instanosis, INC. · NIH-11258624 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a quick and easy urine test that can detect fentanyl, a powerful opioid that can lead to overdoses, so that people who might be affected can get the help they need right away.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Instanosis, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milford, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,544,462 |
| NIH project number | 4R44DA060647-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11258624 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals at risk of fentanyl overdose, such as those with a history of opioid use or those in environments where fentanyl is prevalent.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use opioids or are not at risk of fentanyl exposure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a rapid, instrument-free urine test that can detect fentanyl, a potent opioid responsible for many overdose deaths. The test aims to provide immediate results, which is critical for the timely management of overdose cases, especially since fentanyl can cause respiratory depression within minutes. Unlike current methods that require expensive equipment and take hours or days for results, this new test can be performed quickly and is designed to be accessible to those most affected by fentanyl use. The goal is to enhance the ability to identify fentanyl in patients, allowing for appropriate treatment decisions to be made swiftly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the speed and accuracy of fentanyl detection in overdose situations, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various approaches to drug testing, this specific method of rapid, instrument-free fentanyl detection is novel and has not been widely tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Instanosis, INC.
Milford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xia, Xiaofeng — Instanosis, INC.
- Study coordinator: Xia, Xiaofeng
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Rapid, Sensitive Oral Fluid Fentanyl Test that’s Easy to Use
A fast, easy-to-use test will help people in emergencies or at home know if fentanyl is present in their saliva so they can get the right care quickly.
-
InstaStrip Xylazine: a quick test to detect xylazine in emergency care
A new rapid, easy-to-use test strip is being developed to detect xylazine, a dangerous drug increasingly involved in overdoses, so clinicians can identify it quickly during emergencies.
-
Developing a rapid test for detecting xylazine in drug overdoses
This study is working on a quick test called InstaStrip-Xylazine that helps emergency medical teams find out if someone has taken xylazine, a dangerous drug linked to overdoses, so they can give the right treatment faster.
-
Rapid, easy fentanyl test strip for at‑a‑glance urine checks
A new, instrument-free urine test strip can quickly detect fentanyl at clinically meaningful levels, helping people and clinicians respond faster to overdoses.
-
A quick and easy test for detecting fentanyl in saliva
This study is working on a quick and easy test to check for fentanyl in saliva, which can help doctors respond faster in overdose cases and make sure people get the right care they need.
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.