researchers tried out their system on volunteers who took between 0.5 and 4 milligrams of Rohypnol. For those who took at least 1 milligram of the drug-a typical prescription dose-the test detected it in urine samples one week later while conventional tests did not. Urine samples from people who took no drugs or other benzodiazepines gave negative results.

People who work with the victims of drug rape welcome the idea of a simple test, available in police stations, that can detect Rohypnol beyond the 72-hour limit of the best existing antibody tests. They say it would be immensely valuable to women who suspect they have been subjected to drug rape after several days have elapsed. "It will give the police a fighting chance to actually catch rapists," says Graham Rhodes of the Roofie Foundation in Leeds, which gives counselling and legal advice to victims of the crime.

Sam Le of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Scientific Services Bureau says that rapists usually drug their victims with at least 2 milligrams of Rohypnol, which the test should easily detect. But Walshe says cases that go to court would need to be backed up by more sophisticated and expensive methods, such as gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy.

Walshe says the test could also be miniaturised to allow women to test suspicious drinks. However, he says that the team does not currently have funds to develop the test further.

The Roofie Foundation operates a help line in Britain on 0800-783-2980. For more information on Rohypnol, and contact details for support groups in other countries, see http://www.newscientist.com

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Contact: Claire Bowles
claire.bowles@rbi.co.uk
44-171-331-2751
New Scientist
9-Dec-1998

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