05 Apr Aegis Sciences Corporation Expands Novel Psychoactive Substance Testing
Nashville, Tennessee (April 5, 2021) – Aegis Sciences Corporation, a leading healthcare company that provides clinically innovative medication compliance testing and consulting services to providers, is pleased to announce the expansion of novel psychoactive substance (NPS) testing to Aegis clients. Testing includes expanded offerings for designer opioids, designer benzodiazepines, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic stimulants and two new classes of hallucinogens and dissociatives.
Aegis has committed to ongoing updates of its NPS testing due to the significant increase in use of these types of substances. NPS are substances that are created to mimic prescription or illicit drugs, while avoiding regulation as a controlled substance and often going unidentified by routine presumptive or definitive drug testing methods. The updates to the current offering were necessary to keep pace with the ever-changing NPS compounds that are in circulation while also significantly expanding test options to include synthetic hallucinogens and dissociatives.
The new classes of compounds most likely mimic the effects of substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, Acid) or ketamine. Individuals may knowingly purchase synthetic hallucinogens or dissociatives to avoid detection via drug testing, or they may unknowingly come into contact with these drugs when purchasing LSD or ketamine that are either adulterated or substituted with these synthetic compounds. Although the effects of these compounds may be similar to traditionally available hallucinogens or dissociatives, synthetic products often times vary significantly in potency which could significantly increase an individual user’s risk for adverse effects.
Phenibut, tianeptine, and xylazine will also be incorporated into Aegis’ NPS offering after receiving a large number of inquiries regarding testing of these compounds from providers. Phenibut is marketed as an anxiolytic supplement, and its mechanism of action is most similar to benzodiazepines. This substance may be used to potentiate the effects of benzodiazepines, and has demonstrated the ability to cause withdrawal in patients. Tianeptine and xylazine have drawn interest due to the role they play in overdose risk. Tianeptine has demonstrated opioid-receptor agonism, and could potentially increase central nervous system depressant effects of things like opioids and benzodiazepines. Xylazine has most frequently been found as an adulterant in heroin, and can cause hypotension in individuals that exposed to the drug.
Aegis testing now allows practitioners to opportunity to test for over 160 of the most frequently identified NPS. “Aegis is pleased to offer what we believe to be the most comprehensive testing for novel psychoactive substances in the healthcare environment,” said Dr. Andrew Holt, Clinical Pharmacist.
For more information on NPS testing, please visit: https://www.aegislabs.com/our-services/nps-testing
About Aegis Sciences Corporation
Founded in 1990, Aegis Sciences Corporation is a laboratory sciences company based in Nashville, Tenn., that provides science-driven testing and consulting services for clients such as healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, professional and amateur sports organizations, leading college and university athletic programs, Fortune 500 corporations, and government agencies throughout the United States. For more information please visit https://www.aegislabs.com/.