Press Release – Medetomidine Oral Fluid Testing

Press Release
August 27, 2024
Kalamazoo Michigan

Forensic Fluids Laboratories Inc. (FFL), based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is now testing for
Medetomidine in Oral Fluid. Medetomidine is the latest animal tranquilizer to appear as an adulterant
in illicit Fentanyl in the recreational drug supply. Often, drug users do not know what they are taking
alongside their intended drug of choice. Like Xylazine (“Tranq”), which FFL also identifies in Oral
Fluid, Medetomidine is a veterinary medicine that shares similar mechanisms of action; they interact
with the same biological receptors found in humans and animals. In humans, Medetomidine can cause
sedation, hypertension, and low cardiac output, making an overdose response significantly more
difficult for first-responder professionals.

Medetomidine in the illicit drug supply is surfacing in multiple states according to the Center for
Forensic Science Research and Education (Medetomidine Rapidly Proliferating Across USA). In
addition, public health advisories have been recently issued in Michigan (Michigan Health and Human
Services), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Department of Public Health-Health Alert) and Ohio (ONIC
Warns of Dangerous Drug Mixtures in Ohio’s Illicit Drug Supply). Additional data from postmortem
toxicology testing conducted at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
identified medetomidine in three Michigan overdose deaths since March of this year.

FFL is working alongside our partners in child protective services, law enforcement, drug treatment
courts, SUD/MAT clinics, coroner offices, and the healthcare community – to identify, monitor, and
educate them about the dangers of Medetomidine in the illicit drug supply around our nation.

Forensic Fluids Laboratories is a toxicology lab specializing in Oral Fluid (saliva-based) drug testing and
has been a public health partner since 2005. Forensic Fluids Laboratories performs Oral Fluid testing for
substances of abuse and for medication monitoring throughout the United States.