Published Wednesday by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the study from Korean researchers developed a multicoloured temporary tattoo that reacts to the presence of GHB, a compound described as “commonly associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault.”
According to the study, the chemicals in the tattoo can detect concentrations of GHB in beer, liquor or coffee, changing colour from yellow to red in order to alert the wearer that their beverage may have been spiked.
“In practice, a wearer could dip a finger into a beverage, touch the drop to the sticker and see the result almost immediately,” the release reads.
The newly developed tattoos not only allow the users to test their drinks discreetly, but also act far faster than some older tests, delivering results in less than a second, rather than minutes.
Researchers also say the results last for up to a month, which can help preserve evidence of suspected tampering.
Also direct link to ACS
This feels like a a product in search of a market rather than a product designed to solve a problem. I mean yeah it’s a cool thing but realistically do they expect people to buy (or be given) these temporary tattoos, remember to apply them before a night out, and then subtly drip bits of their drinks on their skin before drinking them to avoid getting drugged? Do the tattoos actually stay on during a night of dancing and sweating?
This is a bad product with a bad design that “solves” a problem in a convoluted and silly way that could just as easily be solved with a paper card or strip with the color changing indicator on it that you can use to test your drinks and just keep in your purse or pocket without having to remember to apply it or worry about it rubbing off. Maybe this could find use as something for a spy to wear to subtly detect poison but even that requires a healthy stretch of the imagination.
It doesn’t require digging out a test strip or card, it’s impossible to misplace or not have immediately on hand, and it doesn’t scream “Hang on a second, I’m just checking to make sure you’re not trying to drug and rape me.”
That was a big part of my criticism - it is convoluted to use and remember, and it kind of does scream that because you still have to do something weird and potentially noticeable to do the test. I am not criticizing the fact that tests that are designed to be subtle exist. I just think this particular one is kind of a stupid idea. There’s a reason it’s being reported on by a chemistry journal rather than a medical or business journal - it’s simply not a viable product when compared to existing technologies, even if it’s a cool technology.
I don’t find it bad product, but rather discreet.
It’s not though. Sticking your finger in your drink or pouring it onto yourself is not any more subtle than doing that with or on a test strip, and furthermore, this is a much more expensive and convoluted alternative to the test strip which can’t be ignored.