NMS Labs Unveils ELISA Assay for Synthetic Cannabinoids in Urine

WILLOW GROVE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a major breakthrough, NMS Labs, the market leader in research and test development for designer drugs, today announced its successful development and implementation of a rapid immunoassay (RIA) urine test that detects the major metabolites of the best known compounds found in “fake pot” or “spice.”

“We are pleased once again to be leading the field with major advances in testing for synthetic designer drugs. Adapting ELISA technology to this challenging group of compounds is a major breakthrough, and opens the door to the cost effective detection of a wider range of impairing drugs.”

“Fake weed” or synthetic marijuana is a prominent drug of concern, as its popularity has become more widespread over the last two years in part because drug users knew that the chemicals used to make it were not detectable in routine testing.

NMS Labs’ new test, based on widely accepted ELISA technology, was developed by the company’s R&D scientists and commercial partners and now brings synthetic marijuana testing within reach of drug monitoring programs and the drug treatment community.

Dr. Barry Logan, NMS Labs National Director of Forensic Services said, “We are pleased once again to be leading the field with major advances in testing for synthetic designer drugs. Adapting ELISA technology to this challenging group of compounds is a major breakthrough, and opens the door to the cost effective detection of a wider range of impairing drugs.”

Dr. Logan continues, “The test currently targets the JWH-018 and JWH-073 metabolites, recently identified through NMS Labs designer drug research and development program. An expanded list of compounds detectable with this technology is already in development.”

The ELISA test marks NMS Labs' first venture into in-vitro diagnostic test development; however, the company has no plans to distribute or license the technology, and is offering the test exclusively to its own clients for forensic and research use.

This announcement comes on top of NMS Labs recent announcements of a blood test that detects 12 of the most common cannabinoid drugs – AM-2201, AM-694, JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-073, JWH-081, JWH-122, JWH-200, JWH-210, JWH-250, RCS-4 and RCS-8 - more than any other commercially available test.

NMS Labs is a national reference laboratory that is unsurpassed in its scope of toxicology tests, accuracy of results, scientific expertise, and innovation. NMS Labs is passionate about promoting public health and safety. For more information on NMS Labs, please visit www.nmslabs.com.