A computationally supported designer benzodiazepine strategy for public toxicology laboratories.

Public laboratories must balance innovative and existing methods to keep up with designer drug trends. This article presents a strategy for handling designer benzodiazepines (DBZDs) in casework from screening to interpretation. The cross-reactivity of 22 DBZDs and metabolites was tested against the Immunalysis™ benzodiazepine (BZD) direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Development and Validation of an LC-MS-MS Method for the Detection of 40 Benzodiazepines and Three Z-Drugs in Blood and Urine by Solid-Phase Extraction.

An analytical method for the detection of 40 benzodiazepines, (±)-zopiclone, zaleplon and zolpidem in blood and urine by solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated. Twenty-nine of 43 analytes were quantified in 0.5 mL whole blood for investigating postmortem, drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) and driving under the influence of drugs cases (DUID).

Unique Structural/Stereo-Isomer and Isobar Analysis of Novel Fentanyl Analogues in Postmortem and DUID Whole Blood by UHPLC-MS-MS.

The presented analytical method enabled the Toxicology Department at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office to identify 26 and quantitatively report 24 compounds in 500 μL of whole blood, including fentanyl analogues (fentalogues) such as methoxyacetyl fentanyl (MeOAF) and cyclopropyl fentanyl (CPF). This second-generation method (FG2) was developed with the objective to improve the existing analysis (FG1) by decreasing sample size, lowering limits of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantitation, minimizing ion suppression and resolving chromatographic interferences. Interferences may occur in the analysis of fentanyl, MeOAF, CPF, 3-methylfentanyl (3MF), butyryl fentanyl and isobutyryl fentanyl due to isobars and structural or geometric isomerism with another analogue or metabolite.

Matrix effect and cross-reactivity of select amphetamine-type substances, designer analogues, and putrefactive amines using the Bio-Quant direct ELISA presumptive assays for amphetamine and methamphetamine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Bio-Quant Direct ELISA assays for amphetamine and methamphetamine in the routine presumptive screening of biological fluids. Standard concentration curves of the target analytes were assayed to assess sensitivity, and known concentrations of common amphetamine-type substances (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phentermine), designer analogues (MDA, MDMA, MDEA, MBDB, PMA, 4-MTA, 2CB), and putrefactive amines (phenylethylamine, putrescine, tryptamine, tyramine) were analyzed to determine cross-reactivity. Results of the standard curve studies show the capacity of both Direct ELISA kits to confidently detect down to 3 ng/mL interday (PBS matrix; CVs 6.

Product ion mass spectra of amphetamine-type substances, designer analogues, and ketamine using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

This paper describes the application of ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) technology to separate and identify amphetamine-type substances (amphetamine, methamphetamine), common and novel designer analogues (MDA, MDMA, PMA, 4-MTA, MBDB), and ketamine using Acquity UPLC/Micromass Quattro Micro API mass spectrometer instrumentation (Waters Corporation, USA). From injection of drug reference standards, it was demonstrated that these compounds can be identified by product ion mass spectra in less than 4 min total analysis time, indicating that the technological advancements associated with UPLC/MS/MS allow it to serve as a powerful analytical tool for high-throughput testing. In addition to demonstrating the separation and response of these drug compounds under the stated UPLC/MS/MS conditions, we believe the acquired product ion spectra will be a beneficial reference to laboratories interested in incorporating the use of this technology in the routine analysis of drugs of abuse.

A demonstration of the use of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry [UPLC/MS] in the determination of amphetamine-type substances and ketamine for forensic and toxicological analysis.

We have recently seen the emergence of ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry as an alternative to traditional high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. The strengths of UPLC technology promote the ability to separate and identify drug compounds with significant gains in resolution and sensitivity and marked reductions in the overall time of analysis. As increased throughput is the desire of the practical toxicology laboratory, the aim of this study was to trial commercially available technology by assessment of the separation of several commonly encountered amphetamine-type substances.