Detection of synthetic cannabinoids

1. An antibody raised to an immunogen of structure (a),

wherein

the crosslinker is —X—Y—, wherein X is linked to the N atom of the indole ring and Y is linked to the accm,

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of carbonyl, amino, thio and azo, or Y is generated by reacting accm with X which is substituted with a terminal functional group selected from the group consisting of maleimide, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, aldehyde and dithiopyridine, and

wherein X is —(CO) n -D-, wherein D is linked to Y, wherein

n=0 or 1, and

D is a C 1-10 substituted or unsubstituted straight chain alkylene or arylene moiety, and

wherein accm is an antigenicity conferring carrier material,

wherein the antibody has an average cross-reactivity, relative to JWH-018, of less than 0.28% to serotonin, 4-methoxypsilocin, δ-9-THC, cannabinol, 11-hydroxy-δ-9-THC, CP 47,497, 3-carboxy-N-pentyl-1H-indole, 3-carboxy-1H-indole, 3-carboxymethyl-5-hydroxy-1H-indole and 5-hydroxytryptophol; and,

wherein the antibody has an average cross-reactivity, relative to JWH-018, of at least 100% to JWH-073, JWH-200, JWH-018 N-pentanoic acid metabolite (M1), JWH-018 5-hydroxyindole metabolite (M2), JWH-018 N-(5-hydroxypentyl) metabolite (M4), JWH-018 6-hydroxyindole metabolite (M5), and 1-(5-fluoropentyl)indol-3-yl-(1-naphthyl)methanone; and

wherein the antibody has an average cross-reactivity, relative to JWH-018, of less than 6.78% to JWH-398.

2. The antibody of claim 1 , wherein the antibody binds to 3-(1-naphthoyl)-1H-indole.

3. The antibody of claim 1 , wherein Y=carbonyl, n=0 and D=1,5-pentylene.

4. The antibody of claim 1 having an IC 50 of greater than 750 ng/ml for serotonin, 4-methoxypsilocin, δ-9-THC, cannabinol, 11-hydroxy-δ-9-THC, CP 47,497, 3-carboxy-N-pentyl-1H-indole, 3-carboxy-1H-indole, 3-carboxymethyl-5-hydroxy-1H-indole and 5-hydroxytryptophol.

5. A method of detecting or determining synthetic cannabinoids of the JWH family, a metabolite thereof or a combination thereof in an in vitro sample of an individual or in a solution derived from a substance suspected of containing synthetic cannabinoids, the method comprising

contacting the sample or solution with at least one detecting agent and at least one antibody of claim 1 ;

detecting or determining the quantity of the at least one detecting agent; and

deducing from calibrators the presence of or amount of a molecule or molecules of the JWH family, the metabolite thereof or the combination thereof in the sample or solution.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the synthetic cannabinoids to be detected or determined are selected from the group consisting of JWH-018, JWH-073 and JWH-200.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the crosslinker is —X—Y— wherein Y is carbonyl and X is 1,5-pentylene.

8. A kit for detecting or determining at least one molecule of the JWH family, a metabolite thereof or a combination thereof, the kit comprising at least one antibody raised to the immunogen of structure (a):

wherein:

the crosslinker is —X—Y—, wherein X is linked to the N atom of the indole ring and Y is linked to the accm,

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of carbonyl, amino, thio and azo, or Y is generated by reacting accm with X which is substituted with a terminal functional group selected from the group consisting of maleimide, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, aldehyde and dithiopyridine, and

wherein X is —(CO) n -D-, wherein D is linked to Y, wherein

n=0 or 1, and

D is a C 1-10 substituted or unsubstituted straight chain alkylene or arylene moiety, and

wherein accm is an antigenicity conferring carrier material,

wherein the antibody has an average cross-reactivity, relative to JWH-018, of less than 0.28% to serotonin, 4-methoxypsilocin, δ-9-THC, cannabinol, 11-hydroxy-δ-9-THC, CP 47,497, 3-carboxy-N-pentyl-1H-indole, 3-carboxy-1H-indole, 3-carboxymethyl-5-hydroxy-1H-indole and 5-hydroxytryptophol;

wherein the antibody has an average cross-reactivity, relative to JWH-018, of at least 100% to JWH-073, JWH-200, JWH-018 N-pentanoic acid metabolite (M1), JWH-018 5-hydroxyindole metabolite (M2), JWH-018 N-(5-hydroxypentyl) metabolite (M4), JWH-018 6-hydroxyindole metabolite (M5), and 1-(5-fluoropentyl)indol-3-yl-(1-naphthyl)methanone; and

wherein the antibody has an average cross-reactivity, relative to JWH-018, of less than 6.78% to JWH-398.

9. The kit of claim 8 , wherein Y=carbonyl, n=0 and D=1,5-pentylene.

10. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the antibody has an IC 50 of greater than 750 ng/ml for serotonin, 4-methoxypsilocin, δ-9-THC, cannabinol, 11-hydroxy-δ-9-THC, CP 47,497, 3-carboxy-N-pentyl-1H-indole, 3-carboxy-1H-indole, 3-carboxymethyl-5-hydroxy-1H-indole and 5-hydroxytryptophol.

11. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the antibody binds to 3-(1-naphthoyl)-1H-indole.