Today, we are pleased to announce the release of the latest MX908 target list update. These updates are critical to allow for new and evolving threats to be detected and identified in the field.  

How we choose what targets to add 

The MX908 searches for and detects/identifies priority drugs, explosives, chemical warfare agents, hazardous materials and precursors for responders in the field. Powered by high-pressure mass spectrometry™ (HPMS), the MX908 can see through interferents and cutting agents to identify threat chemicals at trace levels. Having a robust target list that meets our users’ needs is a top priority.  

We prioritize and invest in developing new targets based on what we hear is concerning our customers. That involves listening to our users on the ground and key trend reports from organizations like the ones below to determine what targets make the cut:   

  • United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) 
  • U.S. DEA National Forensics Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) 
  • European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction 

The MX908 is designed to alert on targets that are a high priority and critical to customers in the field. 

Which targets made the cut this time 

Here’s the list of new targets we added today and why each one was a critical addition to the MX908 target list.  

Target Name Class/Category  Why it is important? 
Butonitazene 
Also known as: Butoxynitazene  
Synthetic opioid As opioid abuse continues to rise around the world, so does law enforcement’s efforts to reduce them on the street. Users are turning to unscheduled opioids, such as butonitazene and desnitroetonitazene, in attempts to evade the law. The presence of synthetic opioids in forensic samples continues to increase. 
Desnitroetonitazene 
Also known as: 
Etodesnitazene, Etazen
Synthetic opioid As opioid abuse continues to rise around the world, so does law enforcement’s efforts to reduce them on the street. Users are turning to unscheduled opioids, such as butonitazene and desnitroetonitazene, in attempts to evade the law. The presence of synthetic opioids in forensic samples continues to increase. 
Dimethyltryptamine 
Also known as: DMT 
Tryptamine/ hallucinogenic DMT was originally only found in plant material and ingested via brews, but as of June 2020, the UNODC reports DMT is increasingly being trafficked and ingested internationally in pill form. 
Gabapentin 
Also known as: Neurontin 
Anticonvulsant/ Nerve pain medication Although originally used as a prescription medication, gabapentin has increasingly become a drug of abuse and was reported in the top 25 drugs seized in the US in 2020. 
Ketamine hydroxylimine Precursor Ketamine hydroxylimine is a precursor to ketamine. Identifying it can help make the determination if a site is a clandestine lab.   
MDMB-4en-PINACA Synthetic cannabinoidWhile there were about 750 cases of MDMB-4en-PINACA in all of 2020, in the first three months of 2021 alone almost 1,300 cases were reported in the US. Its use is expected to continue rising.  
Methylone Synthetic cathinone Methylone is one of the most common synthetic cathinones, which continue to cause toxicity and deaths around the world. Methylone has also been identified in drug seizures that were marketed as “Molly” and originally believed to be MDMA. 
Metonitazene Synthetic opioid Metonitazene is a potent synthetic opioid first reported in July 2020. Data suggests this particular type of synthetic opioid can have potency similar to or greater than fentanyl. 
Mitragynine 
Also known as: Kratom 
Alkaloid Mitragynine has increased in popularity because it is seen as an accessible, natural alternative to opioids. However, it has been implicated in an increasing number of ER admissions, calls to poison control centers, DUI investigations, and overdose deaths. 

Always moving forward 

We strive to make MX908 more capable every day, so this update will be followed by more to come. Constant improvement is key to giving you the best chemical detection and identification tool we can. 

References: 

  1. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2021). European Drug Report 2021: Trends and Developments, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. 
  2. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Division. (2021). National Forensic Laboratory Information System: NFLIS-Drug 2020 Midyear Report. Springfield, VA: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. 
  3. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Division. (2021). National Forensic Laboratory Information System: NFLIS-Drug Snapshot March 2021. Springfield, VA: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. 
  4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2021). World Drug Report 2021. Vienna, Austria: United Nations publication, Sales No. E.21.XI.8.