AIBioTech Establishes Assay Platform for Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoids, Stimulants, and PDE5 Inhibitors
In response to the recently enacted Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012, which placed “cannabimimetic agents” and certain classes of amphetamine-like stimulants into the Controlled Substances Act, AIBioTech first designed, and then implemented a highly sophisticated analytical platform for detection and identification of cannabinoid mimetics, stimulants, and PDE5 inhibitors in suspect test samples. The methods developed at AIBioTech are sensitive to extremely low levels of the different compounds and are rapid enough to provide results on the same day as the sample is received. They are able to resolve well over 100 individual compounds in a single analytical run.
For the most part, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors use the platform to confirm the identity of the ingredients of the herbal products, or to determine whether the product contains banned substances, and is to be precluded from sale to the general public. The platform is also used by law enforcement agencies as a screening tool to assess the presence of these compounds in seized substances. AIBioTech also acts as a subcontractor to other laboratories for the purpose of analysis of suspect test samples.
“Creation of this analysis platform was a concerted effort on behalf of our bioorganic and bioanalytical teams,” said Dr. Robert B. Harris, President and CSO of AIBioTech. “We have spent the better part of two decades putting in place the fundamental technologies and expertise necessary to address vital issues in basic life science research, such as detection of these compounds, and the outstanding success of this assay platform once again serves to substantiate the validity of our business model.”
