Novel Psychoactive Substances testing laboratory comparisons
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What to Know:
- Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are compounds, which are often synthetic and illicitly-manufactured, that mimic the effects of traditional illicit or prescription drugs. While these substances are, at times, federally or internationally banned, they are often designed to avoid detection and regulation.
- Use of these substances can be difficult to detect as highly specialized definitive testing is required to identify their use. To maintain testing that is reflective of current drug-use trends, laboratories that provide this type of testing must update their test menus frequently. Since 2018, over 150 new NPS drugs have been discovered in the United States with 20-30 new substances being identified each year.
- Since 2021, Aegis Sciences Corporation has provided expansive industry-leading NPS testing to help clinicians better understand drug use patterns and deliver informed care. To stay current with the rapidly changing landscape of new and emerging drugs, Aegis has committed to bi-annual NPS test menu updates.
Testing Capabilities: Designer Benzodiazepines | |||
Bezodiazepines | Aegis Labs (100% Coverage) | National Lab 1 (62% Coverage) | National Lab 2 (77% Coverage) |
CFSRE Tier 1 | |||
Bromazolam | |||
Desalkyl-Gidazepam | |||
Flubromazepam | |||
Etizolam | |||
Flualprazolam | |||
CFSRE Tier 2 | |||
Desalkylflurazepam | |||
Clonazolam | |||
8-Aminoclonazolam | |||
Pyrazolam | |||
CFSRE Tier 3 | |||
Desalkylquazepam | |||
Flubromazolam | |||
Deschloroetizolam | |||
Phenazolam | |||
Testing Capabilities: Designer Opioids | |||
Opioids | Aegis Labs (100% Coverage) | National Lab 1 (23% Coverage) | National Lab 2 (85% Coverage) |
CFSRE Tier 1 | |||
Metonitazene | |||
Protonitazene | |||
Carfentanil | |||
o/m/p-Fluorofentanyl | |||
o/m/p-methylfentanyl | |||
CFSRE Tier 2 | |||
N-Pyrrolidono Etonitazene | |||
N-pyrrolidino protonitazene | |||
N-desethyl isotonitazene | |||
N-desethyl etonitazene | |||
CFSRE Tier 3 | |||
N-pyrrolidino metonitazene | |||
Etodesnitazene | |||
Methylenedioxynitazene | |||
5-methyl etodesnitazene | |||
Testing Capabilities: Synthetic Stimulants, Hallucinogens | |||
Stimulants and Hallucinogens | Aegis Labs (100% Coverage) | National Lab 1 (8% Coverage) | National Lab 2 (69% Coverage) |
CFSRE Tier 1 | |||
2F-2-oxo-PCE / Fluorexetamine | |||
N,N-dimethylpentylone | |||
Pentylone | |||
alpha-PiHP / Alpha-PHP | |||
Eutylone | |||
CFSRE Tier 2 | |||
2/3/4-Methyl-methcathinone | |||
2/3/4- chloromethcathinone | |||
MDPHP | |||
N-Cyclohexyl methylone | |||
CFSRE Tier 3 | |||
2C-B | |||
N-cyclohexyl butylone | |||
N-propyl butylone | |||
3-methyl-PCP/ 4-methyl-PCP | |||
Testing Capabilities: Synthetic Cannabinoids | |||
Synthetic Cannabinoids | Aegis Labs (100% Coverage) | National Lab 1 (15% Coverage) | National Lab 2 (54% Coverage) |
CFSRE Tier 1 | |||
MDMB-4en-PINACA | |||
5F-MDMB-PINACA (5F-ADB) | |||
ADB-BINACA (-BUTINACA) | |||
ADB-4en-PINACA | |||
MDMB-BINACA (-BUTINACA) | |||
CFSRE Tier 2 | |||
5F-MDMB-PICA | |||
ADB-5’Br-BINACA | |||
MDMB-PICA | |||
AB-CHMINACA | |||
CFSRE Tier 3 | |||
ADB-5’Br-PINACA | |||
MMB-4en-PINACA | |||
4F-MDMB-BICA | |||
4F-MDMB-BINACA | |||
Disclaimer: Information provided regarding National Lab offerings is based on an assessment of publicly available information reviewed in March 2025. Evaluation based on CFSRE Q32024 Scope Recommendations: https://www.cfsre.org/images/scoperecommendations/Q3-2024-NPS-Scope-Recommendations-NPS-Discovery-081224.pdf
Other Resources:
Aegis Sciences Corporation also provides real-time insights into the presence of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) across the United States. Our interactive tool meant to empower clinicians, public health officials, policymakers, and the public with critical data to address the evolving landscape of synthetic and designer drugs can be found here: https://www.aegislabs.com/npsinsights/
Additionally, summary level data regarding detection of substances included in NPS testing performed by Aegis in 2024 can be found here: https://www.aegislabs.com/clinical-update/nps-trends-2024/
