Synthetic cannabinoids, including JWH-018 and JWH-073, belong to a class of aminoalkylindoles (AAIs) that are smoked to produce an effect similar to tetrahydrocannabinol. Compounds in this class are often collectively known as 'Spice'. After ingestion, these compounds are extensively metabolized to their hydroxy and carboxylic acid metabolites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrinary excretion of ecgonine (EC) was compared to that of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester and minor metabolites, meta-hydroxybenzoylecgonine, para-hydroxybenzoylecgonine, and norbenzoylecgonine, following controlled administration of oral, intravenous, intranasal, and smoked cocaine. Urine EC concentrations peaked later than all other analytes and had longer detection times than the other minor metabolites. With a 50 ng/mL cutoff concentration and following low doses of 10 to 45 mg cocaine by multiple routes, detection times extended up to 98 h.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFor GC-MS analysis of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC), perfluoroacid anhydrides in combination with perfluoroalcohols are commonly used for derivatization. This reagent mixture is preferred because it allows simultaneous derivatization of delta-9-THC and its acid metabolite, 11-nor-delta-9-THC-9-carboxylic acid present in biological samples. When delta-9-THC was derivatized by trifluoroacetic anhydride/hexafluoroisopropanol (TFAA/HFIPOH) and analyzed by GC-MS using full scan mode (50-550 amu), two peaks (P1 and P2) with an identical molecular mass of 410 amu were observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding cocaine and metabolites urinary excretion following smoking is important for interpretation of urine test results in judicial, workplace and treatment settings. In National Institute on Drug Abuse approved studies on a secure research unit, six subjects smoked placebo, 10, 20, and 40 mg cocaine with a precise dose delivery device and six different subjects smoked 42 mg cocaine in a glass pipe. Urine specimens (n = 700) were collected for up to seven days and analyzed for cocaine (COC), benzoylecgonine (BE), ecgonine methylester (EME), m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine (mOHBE), p-hydroxybenzoylecgonine (pOHBE), norbenzoylecgonine (NBE), and ecgonine (EC) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelected ion monitoring in mass spectrometric methods (SIM-MS) is generally used to confirm the presence of a drug in biological samples. Criteria for identification of a compound by MS are based on some specific guidelines. However, some disparities exist between the guidelines as to how many and what type of ions to monitor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Anal Toxicol
October 2006
A method is described for simultaneous determination of cyanide (CN) and thiocyanate (SCN) in human saliva, or oral fluid. SCN concentrations in body fluids appeared to be important in classifying patients as smokers or nonsmokers, in determining some clinical conditions, and in specimen validity testing in forensic drug testing. The human saliva samples were diluted and the anions were separated by an extractive alkylation technique.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTests for oxidizing adulterants in urine are a continuing challenge to the drug-testing program. Iodine was found to destroy morphine and 6-acetylmorphine almost immediately. The effects were less evident on 11 -nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-acid).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhen cocaine is smoked, a pyrolytic product, methyl ecgonidine (anhydroecgonine methyl ester), is also consumed with the cocaine. The amount of methyl ecgonidine formed depends on the pyrolytic conditions and composition of the illicit cocaine. This procedure describes detection of cocaine and 10 metabolites--cocaethylene, nor-cocaine, nor-cocaethylene, methyl ecgonine, ethyl ecgonine, benzoylecgonine, nor-benzoylecgonine, m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine, p-hydroxybenzoylecgonine and ecgonine--in blood and urine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSix separate methods to detect oxidants in urine were developed. The presence of the oxidants was established by initial oxidation of ferrous to ferric ion and detecting the ferric by chromogenic oxidation or complex formation. The reagents for chromogenic oxidation were N,N-dimethylamoino-1,4-phenylenediamine (DMPDA), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and 2-amino-p-cresol (APC), and the reagents for the chromogenic complex were xylenol orange (XO), 8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinolinesulfonic acid (HIQSA), and 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzene-di-sulfonic acid (HBSA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn drug testing, the presence of methamphetamine in urine is generally confirmed by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Derivatization of the compound to a perfluoroalkylamide, prior to confirmation, typically yields better chromatographic separation. Once methamphetamine is detected, a second GC-MS test is necessary to distinguish positive results from the use of over-the-counter medication, Vicks inhaler, or from use of a prescription drug, selegiline (Deprenyl).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBleach, nitrite, chromate, and hydrogen peroxide-peroxidase are effective urine adulterants used by the illicit drug users to conceal marijuana-positive results. Methods for detecting nitrite and chromate are available. Effects of other oxidizing agents that could possibly be used as adulterants and are difficult to detect or measure are presented in this report.
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