Expansion of a medical diagnostics company on the front line of the fight against opioid addiction and abuse was approved on first reading by Salem City Council in November.

Dynamic Medical LLC asked for rezoning from Residential Building to Highway Business District in order to add laboratory testing next to its existing building on Texas Street. No patients would come to the building, according to CEO Jeff Howard. Howard told Council that the laboratory would be testing urine and oral fluid specimens for medical offices in Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland.

At the November Salem Planning Commission meeting, Howard explained that physicians contract with Dynamic Medical to test patients’ fluids to make sure patients are telling the truth about medications they take, and are compliant in taking their medications. Th e expansion is expected to increase the business’ revenue from $860,000 in 2018 to $2.2 million in 2019. Before the planned expansion, Dynamic Medical had to send samples to out-of-state laboratories. The new lab area would employ five people and two sales representatives, said Howard, who added that the expected start-up date is February 1, 2019. Also at the Nov. 26 meeting, Council approved on first reading zoning changes to allow a car wash off Apperson Drive at Apperson and Colorado, with access by Riverland Drive. Th e property is owned by and next to Mechanical Development Company Inc. Zoning on the vacant property would change from Light Manufacturing to Highway Business District. Developers are 540 Properties LLC.