Evidence for the transfer of methadone and EDDP by sweat to children's hair.

In cases where there is a question as to whether children have come into contact with drugs, examinations of their scalp hair are frequently carried out. Positive test results are often discussed in the forensic community due to the various possible modes via which drugs and their metabolites can be incorporated into the hair. These include drug uptake by the child (e.

Fatalities associated with NPS stimulants in the Greater Cologne area.

This study centres on the prevalence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) stimulant use, and its relevance as a cause of death amongst individuals between the ages of 12 and 35 in the greater Cologne area. An automated solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of 97 stimulants in urine (including conventional stimulants, e.g.

Solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the qualitative analysis of 61 synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in urine.

This article comprises the development and validation of a protocol for the qualitative analysis of 61 phase I synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in urine originating from 29 synthetic cannabinoids, combining solid-phase extraction (SPE) utilizing a reversed phase silica-based sorbent (phenyl) with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Validation was performed according to the guidelines of the German Society of Toxicological and Forensic Chemistry. Sufficient chromatographic separation was achieved within a total runtime of 12.

Simultaneous quantification of THC-COOH, OH-THC, and further cannabinoids in human hair by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electron ionization applying automated sample preparation.

The detection of Δ -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) in hair, for the purpose of identifying cannabis consumption, is conducted in many forensic laboratories. Since external contamination of hair with these cannabis components cannot be excluded, even after hair decontamination, only the detection of THC metabolites such as 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) or 11-hydroxy-Δ -tetrahydrocannabinol (OH-THC), is considered to prove cannabis consumption. At present, testing for THC metabolites is not standard practice due to its analytical complexity.

Determination of 74 new psychoactive substances in serum using automated in-line solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A detailed description is given of the development and validation of a fully automated in-line solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) method capable of detecting 90 central-stimulating new psychoactive substances (NPS) and 5 conventional amphetamine-type stimulants (amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethyl-amphetamine (MDEA), methamphetamine) in serum. The aim was to apply the validated method to forensic samples. The preparation of 150μL of serum was performed by an Instrument Top Sample Preparation (ITSP)-SPE with mixed mode cation exchanger cartridges.