The Science That
Keeps You Safe.
Kadam's detection technology is rooted in the same immunoassay principles used in clinical diagnostics — adapted, validated, and made affordable for everyday safety.
Antigen-Antibody Reaction
(Strip Membrane)
(Drug Molecule)
(Result)
2 Lines = No Drug
Antibodies free — test line appears
1 Line = Drug Found
Antibodies blocked by drug — test line absent
How Kadam's Detection Works
Dive into the science behind each component of the Kadam system.
Competitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay
The Kadam detection strip works on the principle of competitive antigen-antibody reaction — a well-established method used in clinical rapid diagnostic tests, pregnancy tests, and drug screening.
The key innovation at Kadam is the modification of this principle specifically for detection in beverages — a technically challenging adaptation, since drinks contain alcohol, sugars, carbonation, and other compounds that can interfere with standard immunoassay performance.
Our strips have been optimised to deliver high accuracy across a range of beverage matrices, making them suitable for cocktails, spirits, wine, beer, soft drinks, and water.
Antibody Membrane Coating
The strip's nitrocellulose membrane is coated with antibodies specific to target spiking agents. These antibodies are highly selective, minimising false positives from common beverage compounds.
Competitive Binding Mechanism
When the strip is dipped, drug molecules in the drink compete with the control-zone conjugate for antibody binding sites. If no drug is present, antibodies bind the conjugate — producing the test line. If drug is present, it occupies the binding sites, suppressing the test line.
Beverage Matrix Modification
Standard immunoassay protocols are designed for urine or serum samples. Kadam has reformulated the strip's chemistry to account for ethanol, acidity, carbonation, and colour compounds present in drinks — a core part of our proprietary development work.
* Preliminary data from field trials 2025–26. Full validated statistics will be published post commercial launch.
Interactive Result Guide
✅ Safe — 2 Lines
Both the Control (C) and Test (T) lines are visible. No spiking agent detected. The antibodies were free to bind the conjugate, producing the test line. Your drink is safe.
Low-Light Intelligence.
Zero Suspicion.
The smart reader is designed to work in environments where reading a strip directly is difficult — nightclubs, dimly lit bars, parties — and to integrate seamlessly with the Kadam app for automatic result interpretation and alerts.
Optical Result Interpretation
The reader uses optical sensors to detect the presence or absence of the test line on the strip — eliminating the need for visual inspection in low-light conditions.
Bluetooth App Integration
Results are transmitted wirelessly to the Kadam app in real time. The app displays the interpreted result and triggers emergency alerts if a spike is detected.
Result Logging
Every test result is stored in the app with a timestamp and location — building a personal safety log and enabling data for future research use.
Full Technical Specs Coming Soon
The smart reader is currently in its final development phase. Complete technical specifications — including sensor type, Bluetooth protocol, battery life, and dimensions — will be published here upon product launch.
Inside the Strip — The Full Reaction
Here's exactly what happens in the 10–15 seconds between dipping the strip and reading the result.
Sample Wicking
Beverage travels up the strip's nitrocellulose membrane by capillary action, carrying any drug molecules present in the sample.
Antibody Competition
Drug molecules (if present) compete with the labelled conjugate for binding sites on the membrane-bound antibodies in the test zone.
Line Formation
The control line always forms (validating the test). The test line forms only when no drug is present — its absence signals a positive detection.
Result Reading
Read visually or with the smart reader. 2 lines = safe. 1 line = alert. Colour intensity is not relevant — presence or absence is all that matters.
| Feature | Standard Urine Drug Test | Kadam Strip | Breathalyser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tests beverages directly | No | Yes | No |
| Result in under 30 seconds | Yes | Yes (10–15s) | Yes |
| Detects spiking agents | Yes (from urine) | Yes (from drink) | No |
| Usable proactively (before drinking) | No | Yes | No |
| Pocket portable | No | Yes | Yes |
| Affordable for everyday use | No | Yes | Limited |
| Works in low-light venues with reader | No | Yes | No |
10s
Time to result from strip dip to reading
2
Detection principles tested — second one selected for accuracy
3+
Years of research and development behind the strip
MVP
Field-validated minimum viable product as of 2025–26
Works Across All Drinks.
Kadam's chemistry has been specifically adapted to perform accurately across the most common beverage types you'll encounter at social events.
Beer & Lager
Carbonation and hop compounds don't interfere with the detection reaction.
Wine
Works in red, white, and rosé — tannins and sulphites accounted for in formulation.
Cocktails & Spirits
High alcohol content environments specifically considered in the beverage matrix modification.
Soft Drinks & Juice
Sugar, citric acid, and colouring agents do not create false positives in the current formulation.
Water & Clear Drinks
Works perfectly in clear beverages — the simplest matrix for the detection reaction.
Tea & Coffee
Tannins, caffeine, and milk compounds are within the tolerance range of the current strip formulation.
Flavoured & Milky Drinks
Dairy, plant-based milks, and flavour additives — ongoing testing to confirm full compatibility range.
Herbal Infusions
Natural herbal compounds are being evaluated to ensure specificity is maintained across the full beverage spectrum.
POC Development (2022–23)
First detection principle tested — inaccurate results led to pivot. Second principle validated successfully.
MVP Development (2024–25)
Moved from proof of concept to a commercially viable, enhanced product across strip, reader, and app.
Field Trials (2025–26)
Real-world testing across multiple beverage types and environments. Data collection completed.
Data Publication (2026)
Full accuracy statistics, sensitivity & specificity data, and field trial results to be published post commercial launch.
From Lab to Field.
Validated.
Kadam's detection technology went through rigorous iteration before reaching field trial stage. Two detection principles were evaluated — the second was selected for its superior accuracy across the beverage matrix.
First principle tested. Inaccurate results in beverage matrix — pivoted.
Second principle validated. Strip POC developed with high accuracy.
Grants and competitions validated the approach — SSIP, GIAN-ZYDUS, MOE Yukti.
POC upgraded to commercially viable MVP — enhanced accuracy and packaging.
Field trials completed. Real-world data collected across venues and drink types.
The Science Roadmap
Kadam's scientific ambitions extend far beyond the strip. Here's where the technology is headed.
Expanded Drug Panel
The current strip detects common spiking agents. Future iterations will expand the detectable panel to cover a wider range of date rape drugs and sedatives.
Home Diagnostic Platform
Applying the same rapid immunoassay principles to home-based diagnostic testing — detecting common health disorders across the family from a single kit.
AI-Assisted Result Reading
Future app versions will use computer vision to assist with result interpretation — photographing the strip and confirming the result automatically, removing human error.