ARK Ketamine Assay

Our highly sensitive ARK Ketamine Assay is a rapid and reliable method for the qualitative and/or semi-quantitative determination of ketamine in human urine.

• Calibration range 0 to 500 ng/mL with a cut-off concentration of 50 ng/mL
• Excellent sensitivity and specificity for the detection of ketamine in human urine
• Excellent cross-reactivity to norketamine and dehydronorketamine
• Liquid, ready-to-use reagents, calibrators, and controls
• Application protocols for all major clinical chemistry analyzers

Ketamin is a synthetic, non-competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist and structurally related to phencyclidine (PCP). The shorter duration of action and lower psycho-mimetic profile of ketamine was considered an improvement over the properties of PCP.

Ketamine is injected intravenously or intramuscularly and seems to be particularly suitable for situations in which patients need immediate pain relief. It was employed as an anesthetic during the Vietnam War, and is often used in the treatment of victims after natural disasters. However, to avoid undesirable psychological side effects, Ketamine should only be used in combination with a sedative such as benzodiazepine. In recent years, ketamine has emerged as a party drug in clubs or at raves, probably because of these side effects.

Side effects include horror trips or the K-Hole, a slang term describing the subjective state of dissociation from the body caused by ketamine. Because of its purported ability to induce confusion and amnesic effects, ketamine is sometimes used as a date rape drug. Since adverse severe psychedelic episodes only seem to occur in adults, ketamine is used as an anesthetic for children or for individuals undergoing minor surgery.