Quest Diagnostics announced that they will now offer a synthetic cannabinoids (“K2/Spice”) testing panel. This new panel uses urine samples to test for commonly detected synthetic cannabinoid compounds including: AM-2201, JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-073, JWH-250, UR-144 and XLR11. UR-144 and XLR-11 are the newest compounds and are chemically different from the first generation compounds.
Synthetic cannabinoids have gained media attention as a “legal high.” While most of the substances are not actually cannabinoids, they act on the same receptor in the human body as Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active ingredient in marijuana and produce similar psychoactive effects. It is estimated that synthetic cannabinoids are anywhere between four and fifty times more potent than marijuana.
Manufacturers of synthetic drugs continually change their products to stay ahead of regulators. Reliable, timely drug testing is critical to protect public and workplace safety and to help enforce laws at the state and federal level. Quest’s scientific experts continue to monitor and adjust our testing panels for new illicit substances in the marketplace.
Contact us or call us for more information about our synthetic cannabinoids panel.
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