Forensic Laboratories introduces first oral fluid test for Tapentadol

Forensic Laboratories, a Denver-based laboratory specializing in toxicology services for drug abuse, has unveiled the first oral fluid test for Tapentadol, a new federally approved drug prescribed by doctors for pain management.  Previously, laboratories could only detect the drug through urine using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) technology.

Tapentadol, approved by the FDA in late 2008, is considered a narcotic pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe pain.  Accurate testing is critical for doctors to ensure that patients are compliant in their utilization of the drug.

Forensic Laboratories' oral fluid technology — PAINpro™ — allows pain management specialists to test orally for drug monitoring. Forensic Laboratories introduced PAINpro™ in January 2009, becoming the nation's first toxicology lab to develop the oral fluid testing technology for the pain management market.  Now, the Lab has validated that Tapentadol is among the drugs that can be accurately detected through this oral testing method.

Oral testing offers multiple advantages including easier, non-invasive collection that potentially eliminates adulterated or substituted samples.  In minutes, a sample is produced with direct observation without the necessity of gender-dependant collectors.

"In being the first to produce an oral assay for Tapentadol, our research team has again demonstrated its leadership and ability to quickly adapt to physician needs in pain management," said Michael Gates, vice president for Forensic Laboratories. "In many cases, doctors who administer pain medications don't always have the ability to ensure they are collecting a urine sample that hasn't been tampered with unless direct supervision of the collection has been administered."