To take a test sample of the liquid, remove the outer plastic cap from the bottle cap (if present) and then use a small knife, nail scissors or screwdriver to remove the small central circular metal piece covering the rubber stopper (Fig 18.1) that you will find underneath the plastic cap. The rubber stopper will then be exposed.
When the rubber stopper is exposed, the needle of the hypodermic can be pushed through the stopper into the bottle. Use the hypodermic syringe supplied with the Exit Nembutal Test Kit (or an equivalent). With the needle in place, invert the bottle and carefully withdraw the syringe plunger until there is liquid in the syringe.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Testing?
Qualitative testing shows ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ if the sample being tested is Nembutal. Qualitative testing uses monoclonal antibodies to indicate whether the Barbiturate Nembutal is present even in minute quantities.
NOTE: Qualitative testing gives NO information on the purity of the sample. A Qualitative test only confirms that Nembutal is present. This is also called the qualitative ‘Spot’ Test.
In contrast, Quantitative testing establishes the purity of the sample. Quantitative testing therefore shows if a sample has deteriorated over time, or from poor storage.
Fig 18.2: Weighing out Nembutal powder for testing
