Marker Test Diagnostics Inc, Scottsdale, Ariz, has secured its first agreement for US distribution of its UR Code urine marker with Elithea Sciences, Hollywood, Fla, a provider of drug confirmation testing, toxicology, and analytical services.

UR Code is a urine marker that “bar-codes” a subject’s urine and eliminates the need to supervise urine collection. Administered in the form of a soft gel capsule, UR Code analytically detects sample substitution, dilution, or adulteration.

Elithea Sciences will provide confirmation testing results to physicians and clinics in chronic pain management markets in Florida and Texas. In addition, Elithea has the right of first refusal for distribution in six additional states, including Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The companies plan to commercialize the product before the end of the summer.

“We believe partnering with Elithea Sciences will be the first step in changing the culture of the drug testing industry in the United States,” says Kim Christensen, chief executive of Marker Test. “Together, we have listened to important segments of the industry and recognize that eliminating the observed urine collection process is a major accomplishment in improving the overall integrity and quality of the urine sample, while returning dignity and respect to the sample donor. Elithea Sciences now has an exclusive tool to eliminate the false negative urine known as the ‘substituted sample.’”

A press conference to discuss the UR Code product, Marker Test’s partnership with Elithea Sciences, and the company’s plans for further expansion in the US is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, at 11:00 am EDT. Interested parties may access the conference remotely by dialing (719) 457-6209 and entering passcode 243908.

For more information, visit Marker Test or AACC booth 4918.