Direct and rapid characterization of illicit drugs in adulterated samples using thermal desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Foods and drinks have been adulterated with illicit drugs to facilitate criminal activities. Unfortunately, conventional analytical methods are incapable of rapidly characterizing these drugs in samples, as serious interferences from sample matrices must be removed through tedious and time-consuming pretreatment. Ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AMS) generally does not require sample pretreatment and is thus a suitable tool for directly and rapidly detecting illicit drugs in samples in different physical states.

Point-of-care identification of organophosphates in gastric juice by ambient mass spectrometry in emergency settings.

Background: For emergency management, it is important to promptly identify the organophosphate ingested by self-poisoning patients since different organophosphates cause intoxication through different mechanisms and require different therapeutic strategies. This study aimed at the development of a point-of-care ambient mass spectrometric approach for rapid identification of organophosphate(s) in gastric juice for emergency management.

Methods: Six organophosphate insecticides that are commonly ingested by self-poisoning patients in Taiwan were examined.