Valley Medical Laboratory is excited to offer testing for Xylazine as part of its standard toxicology testing panel. This new test is available to all Valley Medical addiction treatment center partners.
Xylazine is a new class of potentially deadly drug that is sweeping the nation. Officials have confirmed the presence of xylazine in the U.S. illicit drug supply and have linked it to increasing numbers of overdose deaths.
Xylazine is a veterinary sedative, first developed in 1962, sometimes known as “tranq” or “tranq dope.” It is not approved for use by humans. Users often mix Xylazine with fentanyl, heroin, and other street drugs. The drug can be swallowed, inhaled, smoked, snorted, or injected into the muscle or vein, with effects typically lasting from 20 to 50 minutes.
Human use of Xylazine can cause a zombie-like breakdown of the skin, drastic blood pressure changes, depression in the respiratory system, and hyperglycemia. It can cause flesh wounds so severe they require amputation. Because Xylazine is not an opioid and does not bind to opioid receptors, it does not respond to naloxone.
Traditionally, Xylazine has not been included in routine immunoassay toxicology screens. This lack of testing means that treatment centers may not always discover Xylazine use among their clients, which puts the client’s entire treatment plan at risk
For these reasons, Valley Medical Laboratory has added Xylazine to the list of substances it tracks in its toxicology test screening. Clients with Xylazine in their systems are easily identified via Valley’s vTOX urine drug testing so that facilities can create appropriate treatment plans.
Valley Medical Laboratory’s unique vTOX urine drug testing uses DNA fingerprinting to validate urine samples without the need for viewed collection. Treatment centers and providers can order tests and view results on their own computers using Valley Medical’s easy-to-use partner portal. Xylazine use is highlighted in the test results.
To learn more about Xylazine testing at Valley Medical Laboratory, click here or contact us via email at info@valleymedlab.com. We’ll be glad to provide more details and discuss all the useful services we provide for addiction treatment centers.
