New Test Launched for Ecstasy

An automated test for detecting ecstasy, an illegal drug of abuse, has been launched.

The increased demand for an ecstasy test originated in the guidelines proposed by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. The guidelines specifically included mandatory screening for ecstasy as part of a drug-free workplace program.

Ecstasy is considered a "club drug” used primarily by adolescents and college-age students. An overdose can be lethal and is the cause of thousands of emergency department visits despite an increased public awareness of the drug's side-effects. Dade Behring (Deerfield, IL, USA) offers the ecstasy test on its Dimension chemistry systems and V-twin, Viva-E and Viva-Jr drug testing systems. The new test uses the Syva Emit technology, which has been widely used and validated in the drug-testing industry.

"Dade Behring has been the leader in drug testing for more than 30 years,” said Jim Reid-Anderson, chairman, president and CEO of Dade Behring. "We know the use of drugs is a global issue and we are committed to providing physicians with better access to tests such as the ecstasy test, allowing for quicker diagnosis and treatment of their patients.”

Under the Syva brand name, Dade Behring offers a variety of tests that can either detect or provide quantitative measures of therapeutic drugs, drugs-of-abuse, and drugs used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs. The tests are used by clinical laboratories, criminal justice departments, and occupational health sectors.



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