Millennium Laboratories has reported the company’s development and validation of a clinical quantitative assay for the new drug tapentadol (Nucynta) by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, the company offers drug screening tests for heroin metabolite 6-Monoacetylmorphine, alcohol biomarkers ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS), and meperidine (Demerol).
Nucynta is the centrally-acting analgesic approved in the US. It is considered to have the potency of morphine with reduced side effects. The drug’s presence or absence in a patient can be detected by LC-MS/MS technology, providing a tool to pain physicians for optimal prescribing.
LC-MS/MS technology provides greater assay sensitivity and specificity so that in addition to identifying a patient’s prescribed pain medications, physicians can also help identify patients who may be diverting their medications, patients who may have obtained drugs from other sources and patients who may be using alcohol or illegal drugs with their prescription medications.
Research has shown that 6-MAM can be present in urine when morphine, the traditional metabolite looked for in the urine screening process, is absent. By adding the 6-MAM assay, a higher percentage of heroin users can be detected.
Alcohol biomarkers ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) positively detect and confirm patient alcohol use.
Meperidine (Demerol) is a narcotic analgesic prescribed for the relief of moderate to severe pain, which is highly addictive when used long-term and can cause psychological and physical dependence. The abuse of meperidine poses a risk of overdose and death.
Joseph Shurman, chairman of pain management at Scripps Memorial Hospital, said: “With new opioids like tapentadol being introduced, pain physicians need to avail themselves of the latest cutting-edge technology for routine drug screening of their patients. The DEA has mandated that physicians must do their best to demonstrate that their patients are compliant, that they are taking what they are prescribed and are not diverting the drugs. For the health of the patient and for the safety of the patient and the physician’s practice, fast and accurate drug screening results are critical.”