ElSohly Laboratories

What ElSohly Laboratories does

ElSohly Laboratories, Incorporated (ELI) is a privately held, family-owned specialty analytical chemistry laboratory founded in 1985 by Dr. Mahmoud A. ElSohly and headquartered at 5 Industrial Park Drive, Oxford, Mississippi. The firm operates a single facility serving the U.S. drug-testing community with five interconnected service lines: (1) DHHS- and CAP-certified analytical testing for workplace drug-testing programs covering marijuana metabolites, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and related drug classes; (2) reference work analyses for other laboratories and reagent manufacturers; (3) certified blind quality-control specimens, laboratory urine-matrix controls, and meconium controls for drug-testing labs; (4) analytical and internal standards for GC/MS and LC/MS/MS, including proprietary fluorinated internal standards where ELI is the sole source; and (5) contract R&D and expert consulting/testimony services led personally by the founder.

The technical platform is classical analytical chemistry rather than software: GC/MS, LC/MS/MS, HPLC-UV, HPLC-ELSD, NMR at 300/400/500 MHz, UFLC-MS/MS, UPLC-MS/MS, HREIMS, GC/MS-FID, IR, UV, and X-ray crystallography. Defensible IP is built on 30+ patents (cannabinoid isolation, deuterated cannabinoid standards, THC esters, biologically active CBD analogs, urushiol patches, artemisinin dimers), the proprietary THC-acid-metabolite standard manufactured for nearly two decades, fluorinated GC/MS internal standards held by ELI alone, and a stable urine-matrix formulation for QC specimens. The company holds DHHS and CAP certifications continuously since 1989, DEA Analytical Lab and Manufacturer registrations, FDA registration, and state pharmacy/health licenses in Mississippi, Maryland, and New York.

Revenue is generated through direct, sales-led engagement with no intermediaries: unit-priced consumables (e.g., $45 per positive blind control, $20 per negative, $1.20/mL for custom lab controls at minimum 2-liter orders, $50-$100/g for meconium controls), quote-based professional services for reference work and R&D, and fee-based expert testimony. Customers are federal and state agencies, drug-testing laboratories, nuclear/healthcare facilities, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. There is no disclosed external funding beyond a single $182,000 NIH award in 2019, no M&A activity, and the company employs 11-50 people organized around the founder, his son as VP of Operations, the Associate Director of Research, and the Laboratory Manager/Certifying Scientist.

Name

ElSohly Laboratories

Legal name

ElSohly Laboratories, Incorporated

Website

https://elsohly.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ElSohly Laboratories is a privately held, family-owned specialty analytical chemistry lab in Oxford, Mississippi, founded 1985, providing DHHS-certified workplace drug testing, reference analyses, blind QC specimens, and proprietary analytical standards to federal/state agencies, drug-testing laboratories, and pharmaceutical manufacturers across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Analytical Laboratory Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Toxicology & Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratories (HLAFAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reference & Esoteric Testing Laboratories (HLAFAMAJ), Impurity / Reference Standard Synthesis & Characterization (HLAGAHAG), Clinical Chemistry & Immunoassay Laboratories (HLAFAMAB)

Keywords

• Drug testing services
• Analytical chemistry
• Forensic toxicology
• Reference materials
• Cannabis research

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Drug Testing Services: Forensic drug testing for regulated (DHHS-certified) and non-regulated industries, covering drugs of abuse including marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and other drug classes
2. Reference Work Analyses: Reference work analyses for other laboratories and manufacturers of testing reagents and quality control materials; analytical services to pharmaceutical industry ranging from developing analytical procedures to analyzing specimens
3. Quality Control Specimens: Preparation and certification of blind quality control specimens and laboratory controls for drug testing laboratories; custom products to meet specific laboratory needs
4. Standards and Internal Standards: Analytical standards and internal standards for drug testing; available in bulk (mg to g quantities) and in solution (100 μg/mL in MeOH, DEA exempt preparations)
5. Research and Development: Research projects for federal and private organizations from concept inception to product development and patent; method development and pharmacokinetic studies
6. Consulting Services: Dr. Mahmoud A. ElSohly provides consulting in drugs of abuse, drug abuse testing, and expert testimony (depositions or court appearances)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ElSohly Laboratories is a privately held analytical chemistry laboratory that provides analytical testing, reference materials, quality control specimens, standards, research, and consulting services. The company specializes in drug testing, forensic toxicology, cannabis research, and addiction-related research, serving government agencies, research institutions, and other laboratories since 1985.

Product overview

ElSohly Laboratories is a multifaceted laboratory offering a portfolio of interconnected analytical and advisory services to the drug testing community. The core offerings include Analytical Testing Services for workplace drug testing (both regulated and non-regulated), Reference Work Services for external laboratories, Quality Control Specimens (blind QC, lab controls, and meconium controls), and Analytical Standards and Internal Standards for GC/MS and LC/MS/MS analysis. These services are supplemented by Research and Development Services spanning from concept to patent for federal and private clients, and Consulting Services including expert witness testimony. The company operates as a unified services organization rather than a software product company, with all offerings being laboratory testing, analysis, and advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Analytical Testing Services Analytical testing services focused on drug testing and forensic toxicology for government agencies, employers, and other laboratories.
• Workplace Drug Testing DHHS/SAMHSA-certified workplace drug testing services for federally regulated testing programs.
• Reference Materials and Standards Certified reference materials, analytical standards, and quality control specimens supplied to analytical and forensic laboratories.
• Research Services Research services in cannabis chemistry, drug metabolism, and addiction science for academic, government, and industry clients.
• Consulting Services Consulting services in analytical chemistry, forensic toxicology, drug testing methodology, and laboratory operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• DHHS certification ensures compliance with federal workplace drug testing guidelines
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)coreOthersELI has been continuously certified as a workplace drug testing laboratory by DHHS since 1989, meeting federal guidelines for drug-free workplace programs under DHHS certification requirements.
• College of American Pathologists (CAP)coreOthersELI has been continuously CAP-certified since 1989, maintaining accreditation through the College of American Pathologists laboratory accreditation program.
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)coreOthersELI holds DEA registrations for both Analytical Lab and Manufacturer operations, enabling legal handling and production of controlled substances for testing purposes.
• US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)coreOthersELI is registered with the FDA as part of its regulatory compliance for operating as a laboratory in the pharmaceutical and drug testing industry.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)coreOthersDr. ElSohly serves as Project Director of the NIDA Marijuana Project at the University of Mississippi since 1981, funded by NIDA for research activities.
• University of MississippicoreOthersDr. ElSohly serves as Research Professor in the National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Professor of Pharmaceutics in the School of Pharmacy. ELI is affiliated with the university's research programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Quest Diagnostics: Largest U.S. clinical laboratory offering a broad menu of workplace drug testing, toxicology, and reference services. Directly comparable as a federally certified drug testing lab competing for the same regulated employer and government customers, though operating at vastly greater scale and with broader diagnostics offerings.
• Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp): Major clinical laboratory network with a substantial workplace drug testing and forensic toxicology business serving federal agencies and employers. Comparable in regulatory scope (DHHS-certified labs) and customer base, but operates nationally with thousands of patient service centers.
• Cerilliant (Sigma-Aldrich/Merck): Major manufacturer of certified reference standards and reference materials used in clinical, forensic, and pharmaceutical testing. Comparable to ELI's analytical standards and reference materials business, though at far greater scale across many drug classes.

Direct peers

• Millennium Health: Specialty toxicology lab offering urine drug testing, definitive testing via LC-MS/MS, and medication monitoring for clinicians and health systems. Comparable in the LC-MS/MS-based drug confirmation testing methodology ELI emphasizes.
• NMS Labs: Independent forensic and clinical toxicology reference laboratory providing specialized testing in drugs of abuse, postmortem toxicology, and pharmacokinetic analyses. Comparable specialty reference lab with overlapping methods (GC/MS, LC-MS/MS) and customer base.
• Clinical Reference Laboratory: Privately held clinical and forensic reference laboratory providing drug testing, clinical diagnostics, and specimen collection services to employers, government, and healthcare clients. Comparable reference lab serving overlapping customer segments.
• Psychemedics Corporation: Specialty laboratory focused exclusively on hair-based drugs-of-abuse testing for employers and federal agencies. Comparable niche toxicology lab competing in the same federally regulated workplace testing market.
• Aegis Sciences Corporation: Nashville-based forensic toxicology and clinical laboratory specializing in drugs-of-abuse testing, pain management, and substance-use monitoring. Closely comparable specialty toxicology lab competing for the same healthcare, employer, and government drug-testing customers.
• Cordant Health Solutions: Specialty toxicology laboratory providing drug testing, medication monitoring, and reference laboratory services to criminal justice, healthcare, and employer clients. Direct comparable to ELI's reference-work and drug-of-abuse testing offerings.

Emerging players

• Cayman Chemical: Specialty manufacturer of analytical reference standards, including cannabinoids and drug-of-abuse metabolites, supplying clinical and research labs. Directly comparable as a competitor in ELI's analytical standards and internal standards product line, with particular overlap in cannabinoid chemistry.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elsohly-laboratories-incorporated-eli-

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ElSohly Laboratories