Immunoassay reagents and methods for determination of LSD and LSD metabolites

An immunoassay method for determining the presence of LSD or LSD metabolites in a sample comprising

• a) contacting the sample with an antibody to LSD or LSD metabolites, wherein said antibody is raised to an LSD-protein conjugate having a protein carrier conjugated to said LSD at the N-1 position of said LSD, said LSD-protein conjugate having the structure
• wherein R1 is an alkyl cycloalkyl, or aryl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
• wherein R2 is a bond or
• wherein R3 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms;
• wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of an immunogenic carrier substance, an enzyme donor polypeptide, and a label;
• and
• n is 1 to p wherein p is the molecular weight of Z/1000;
• b) contacting the antibody with said LSD-protein conjugate;
• c) measuring complexes formed between the conjugate and the antibody by contacting the complexes with a detection reagent, and thereby detecting a first signal generated by the complexes;
• and
• d) determining an amount of LSD or LSD metabolites in the sample by comparing the first signal detected to a second signal detected using a known concentration of LSD or LSD metabolites;
• wherein one or more of the following are characteristics of the antibody:
• (i) the antibody is less than 1% crossreactive with chlorpromazine;
• (ii) the antibody is less than 0.1% crossreactive with ergotamine;
• (iii) the antibody binds the conjugate such that the frequency of false positive reactions with clinical urine samples not containing LSD is less than 4%;
• (iv) the antibody binds the conjugate such that the median relative level of LSD and LSD metabolites measurable in urine samples taken from a subject 36 hours after administration of LSD is at least 5% of the highest levels of LSD and LSD metabolites measurable in urine samples from the same subject within the first 24 h after the administration;
• or
• (v) the antibody is capable of binding the conjugate in a manner that is inhibitable by a glucuronide derivative of LSD.