New assay to test for newborn exposure to designer stimulants

United States Drug Testing Laboratories, Inc (USDTL), a reference laboratory specializing in alcohol and substances of abuse testing, released a new assay testing umbilical cord for newborn exposure in utero to Designer Stimulants/ Bath Salts on Friday, June 1, 2012. The CordStat® assay screens for the most common of designer stimulants known as "Bath Salts."

Designer stimulants produce an euphoric high and have been described by the CDC as "a serious public threat." These stimulants are packaged as bath salts, plant food or stain remover with labels that indicate "not for human consumption". (CDC, 2011; Dargan et al, 2010; Dargan et al, 2011). Officials say the powdery substance mimics the effects of cocaine, ecstasy and LSD. These chemicals can cause hallucinations, paranoia, rapid heart rates, violent behavior and suicidal thoughts.

Healthcare workers are seeing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) like symptoms similar to those seen in newborns exposed to the drugs listed above but cannot be attributed to opiates or other commonly screened for substances of abuse. Due in part to the lack of a widely-available, objective screen to identify newborns that have been exposed to designer stimulants, currently no specific research exists concerning the short-term or long-term harm caused by in utero exposure to designer stimulants. That said, the UK Teratology Information Service has warned that use of designer stimulants should be avoided during pregnancy (UKTIS, 2010).

CordStat® is an ideal clinical assay for healthcare practitioners concerned with monitoring newborns at high risk for having been exposed to Bath Salts/Designer Stimulants. The assay, which tests for 8 of the most common ingredients, can be ordered as an add-on test to one of our standard CordStat® 5-, 7-, 9-, 12- and 13-drug panels.