Date rape test
 In the past year, more than 1,000 women in Britain
have reported being raped while drugged, yet due to the difficulty
of proving a crime that the victim cannot even recall, there have
been few successful prosecutions.
This drugs cassette looks for the presence of the
drug benzodiazepine in a suspect drink or human urine. Benzodiazepines
or 'benzos' are tranquillisers that produce a sedative effect. The
most common tranquilliser associated with 'date rape' is a benzo
called Rohypnol™ or roofies. For more information on tranquillisers, click
here.
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What
does the test involve?
This test
is fast, accurate and easy to do. It takes just a few minutes to test
a drink or a urine sample.
3 single tests
are included. |
| Code: DATERAPE-SNGBZO |
Price: From UK£ 5.99 |
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Why do I need this test?
This test can warn you if your drink has been spiked and
so allows you to take action before it's too late.
What is Rohypnol™?
Rohypnol is a potent tranquilliser that produces a sedative effect, amnesia and muscle relaxation. Rohypnol
is available on prescription for medical problems, such as extreme back
pain and insomnia.
Rohypnol usually comes in the form of a white tablet, scored
on one side with the word 'ROCHE'. Scarily Rohypnol is odourless and tasteless
and can take effect after just 10 minutes of being swallowed.
What are the effects of rohypnol?
Rohypnol, especially when mixed with alcohol causes a strong
high, making people appear extremely drunk when they may have only had
one drink. The drug can also leave you with only a hazy memory of what
happened. The effects of Rohypnol include, lowered inhibitions, sedation,
confusion, severe disorientation and blackouts.
Rohypnol usually comes as a small sized tablet which is
easily dissolved in drinks, it is also odourless and tasteless so is ideal
for spiking drinks. If Rohypnol is added to alcohol the effect can be
intensified and a reaction can occur between 10-30 minutes after ingestion
and can last up to 8 hours.
The company who manufactures the pill have now added a blue
colour to it which will appear when added to a drink. However, this blue
colour does not show up for nearly 20 minutes and does not show up in
red wine, cola or any other dark drinks or dark bottles.
What should
I do if I believe my drink has been spiked?
If you start to feel odd, slightly drunk and sick after
only a few drinks and you know you couldn't possibly be drunk, then there
is a chance that your drink has been spiked. If you are with friends,
tell them that you think your drink may have been spiked and get them
to immediately leave the place you are in with you and take you to a place
of safety. Once safely home ensure someone stays with you until the possible
effects of the drug have worn off. However, be sure the person you leave
with is someone you totally trust, many victims have been raped by people
they know. If you are alone you should tell the landlord or manager and
ensure they take you to a place of safety, whilst they phone a friend
or member of your family to get you home safely. NEVER let a stranger
offer to help or take you home, they could be the potential rapist!
What should I do if I think
I have been 'date raped'?
As Rohypnol can take away your memory you may not recall
the night's events so if you wake up in a strange place, you are at home
but your underwear is scattered around, you have a sore genital area or
there is physical evidence on your body, then you may have been a victim
of rape.
If you believe you have been a victim of 'date rape' it
is very important that you report the incident to the police as soon as
possible and insist that they take a blood and urine sample. Rohypnol
can only be traced up to 48 hours in your urine. When reporting the incident,
make sure that you are accompanied by a friend or even better a solicitor.
If you have been raped it is also advisable to visit your
doctor or local GUM
clinic for tests to ensure that you have not been given a sexually
transmitted disease.
Test procedure
Make sure you read
all instructions carefully and follow them exactly.
This test can be carried out on a suspected tampered drink
or on a urine sample if you believe you may have consumed a drink that
could have been spiked. You can test beers, wine, alcopops, mixers and
soft drinks but not pure (straight) spirits. You should use this test
as soon as you become suspicious.
Testing a drink
- Remove the cassette from foil pouch (do not break
the seal on the foil pouch until you are ready to begin the test).
- Pull the protective cap off the bottom of the
test to reveal the absorbent testing strip, do not touch the strip and
do not throw away the protective cap.
- Carefully dip the testing strip into the suspected
drink, ensuring that the liquid does not come into contact with the
plastic case of the test. Allow the test to absorb the liquid for about
5-10 seconds. You will begin to see the liquid moving up the strip.
- After 10 seconds, remove the test from the drink
and replace the protective cap.
- Lay the test on a clean flat surface while the
test lines develop.
- You can read negative results as soon as they
appear but positive results must be read at least 5 minutes after removing
from the drink. All results should be read within 10 minutes, otherwise
a false reading may occur.
Please note
that the strips will not work in straight shots, such as vodka.
Testing a urine sample
You can test a urine sample either when you become suspicious
or the following morning if you believe your drink was spiked the previous
night.
- Remove the cassette from foil pouch (do not break
the seal on the foil pouch until you are ready to begin the test).
- Using the plastic cup provided, obtain a urine
sample from the individual who is being tested.
- Pull the protective cap off the bottom of the test
to reveal the absorbent testing strip, do not touch the strip and do
not throw away the protective cap.
- Carefully dip the testing strip into the urine
sample, ensuring that the urine does not come into contact with the
plastic case of the test. Allow the test to absorb the urine for about
5-10 seconds. You will begin to see the urine moving up the strip.
- After 10 seconds, remove the test from the urine
and replace the protective cap.
- Lay the test on a clean flat surface while the
test lines develop.
- You can read negative results as soon as they appear
but positive results must be read at least 5 minutes after removing
from urine. All results should be read within 10 minutes, otherwise
a false reading may occur.
Results
You will see 2 letters on the cassette by the test strip,
‘C’ this is the control band and ‘T’, this is the test band.
A pink coloured line should appear on the strip of the control
band (C), this confirms the strip has worked properly. If no line appears
in the control band (C) the strip hasn’t worked properly and you may need
to do a further test.
A second pink coloured line, no matter how faint should
now appear in the test band (T), this is a negative result, no benzos
have been detected in the sample. If no further line appears in the test
band (T) this is a positive result, a benzo has been detected in the sample.
Remember a negative sample will produce 2 lines, and
a positive sample will produce only one line in the control band (C).
What should I do with the results?
Negative result
If you obtain a negative result then there were no benzos
detected in your body or drink at this time. However, there is a possibility
that your drink still may have been spiked with the drug GHB (gammahydroxybutyrate).
GHB is a colourless, odourless liquid which has a salty taste. If you
believe your drink still may have been spiked, you
should leave it and purchase another one and keep a closer eye on it.
To avoid your drink being tampered with follow the tips below- "What
else can I do?"
Positive result
If you obtain a positive result then benzos have been detected
in the sample. If the result
is positive then you should not drink anymore of the suspect drink. If
you have already drank some then ensure you tell your friends so they
can keep an eye on you and they can also keep a closer eye on their own
drinks. If you begin to feel drunk really quickly or feel any other unusual
symptoms it is recommended that you leave the place you are in and go
to a place of safety. You should also follow the tips above -“What should
I do if I believe my drink has been spiked”.
What else can I do?
To prevent your drink from being tampered with, remember
the following:
- Plan your night and avoid going home alone.
- Nominate a friend as a drink's watcher, ideally
the one who is driving!
- Don't accept drinks (soft, hot or alcoholic) from
anyone you don't know or anyone you don't entirely trust.
- Remember, just because you are not drinking alcohol
you can still be affected.
- If you believe your drink looks or tastes different,
don't take a chance and leave it.
- If you start to feel drunk after less alcohol than
normal, tell a friend and get them to help you or keep an eye on you.
- Do not accept a lift home off someone you don't
know or know very well.
- If you notice a friend is drunk after just 1-2
drinks, keep a close eye on them.
- Drink from a bottle that you saw being opened and
between drinking keep your thumb over the top.
- Never leave your drink unattended, even when going
to the toilet.
- Remember that isn't just women that are potential
victims.
Related topics
Drug Tests
The Detox Handbook
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