Forensic Laboratories' analytical test capable of detecting Ethyl Sulfate in saliva

Aug 6 2010

Forensic Laboratories, a Denver-based laboratory specializing in toxicology services for drug and alcohol abuse, has announced the expansion of its oral fluid testing capabilities.  The company is the first lab in the nation to develop an analytical test capable of detecting Ethyl Sulfate (EtS) in saliva, a chemical produced by the body after alcohol exposure.  Forensic Laboratories' new test method will also simultaneously detect Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG).

For criminal courts and parole officers who monitor for abstinence, the ability to test for EtG and EtS orally offers a simple method to detect alcohol exposure and provides supplementary defensibility in conjunction to ethanol testing.  Additionally, some scientific publications suggest that EtG and EtS may be detectable for longer periods of time than ethanol.  Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) technology is used for the screening and confirmation of the oral fluid test result.  

"Our mass spectrometry division, headed by Dwain Irvan, was one of the first to offer the quantitation of both EtG and EtS in urine," said Dr. James Ruth, Forensic Laboratories' laboratory director. "Now we are the first to offer EtS in oral fluid."

Forensic Laboratories' experience with EtG and EtS analysis in urine, coupled with peer-reviewed publications, suggest EtS is a superior bio-marker to EtG due to the potential for bacterial degradation or contribution of EtG.

Forensic Laboratories' oral fluid technology — PAINpro™ — allows pain management specialists to test orally for drug monitoring. Forensic Laboratories introduced PAINpro™ in January 2009.

Oral testing offers multiple advantages including easy, 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.