1
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Johnson CR, Sabatini HM, Aderorho R, Chouinard CD. Dependency of fentanyl analogue protomer ratios on solvent conditions as measured by ion mobility-mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2024; 59:e5070. [PMID: 38989742 DOI: 10.1002/jms.5070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Recently, our group has shown that fentanyl and many of its analogues form prototropic isomers ("protomers") during electrospray ionization. These different protomers can be resolved using ion mobility spectrometry and annotated using mobility-aligned tandem mass spectrometry fragmentation. However, their formation and the extent to which experimental variables contribute to their relative ratio remain poorly understood. In the present study, we systematically investigated the effects of mixtures of common chromatographic solvents (water, methanol, and acetonitrile) and pH on the ratio of previously observed protomers for 23 fentanyl analogues. Interestingly, these ratios (N-piperidine protonation vs. secondary amine/O = protonation) decreased significantly for many analogues (e.g., despropionyl ortho-, meta-, and para-methyl fentanyl), increased significantly for others (e.g., cis-isofentanyl), and remained relatively constant for the others as solvent conditions changed from 100% organic solvent (methanol or acetonitrile) to 100% water. Interestingly, pH also had significant effects on this ratio, causing the change in ratio to switch in many cases. Lastly, increasing conditions to pH ≥ 4.0 also prompted the appearance of new mobility peaks for ortho- and para-methyl acetyl fentanyl, where all previous studies had only showed one single distribution. Because these ratios have promise to be used qualitatively for identification of these (and emerging) fentanyl analogues, understanding how various conditions (i.e., mobile phase selection and/or chromatographic gradient) affect their ratios is critically important to the development of advanced ion mobility and mass spectrometry methodologies to identify fentanyl analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heidi M Sabatini
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA, 29634
| | - Ralph Aderorho
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA, 29634
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2
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Krupa Z, Nizioł J. Fiber Laser-Generated Silver-109 Nanoparticles for Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Illicit Drugs. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2024; 35:1156-1167. [PMID: 38709655 PMCID: PMC11157659 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Cannabinoids and opioids are the most prominently used drugs in the world, with fentanyl being the main cause of drug overdose-related deaths. Monitoring drug use in groups as well as in individuals is an important forensic concern. Analytical methods, such as mass spectrometry (MS), have been found most useful for the identification of drug abuse on a small and large scale. Pulsed fiber laser 2D galvoscanner laser-generated nanomaterial (PFL 2D GS LGN) was obtained from monoisotopic silver-109. Nanomaterial was used for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of selected illicit drug standards with standard high-resolution reflectron-based time-of-flight MALDI apparatus. Δ9-THC, 11-OH-THC, 11-COOH-THC, fentanyl, codeine, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), heroin, tramadol, and methadone were chosen as test compounds. Illicit drugs were tested in a concentration range from 100 μg/mL to 10 pg/mL, equating to 50 μg to 50 fg per measurement spot. For all analyzed compounds, identification and quantification by silver-109-assisted laser desorption/ionization (LDI) MS was possible, with uncommon [M + 109Ag3]+ and [M - H]+ ions present for certain structures. The results of the quantitative analysis of drugs using silver-109 PFL 2D GS LGN for LDI MS are presented. Laser-generated NPs are proven to be useful for the analysis of selected drugs, with exceptionally good results for fentanyl monitoring in a broad range of concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna Krupa
- Doctoral
School of Engineering and Technical Sciences at the Rzeszów
University of Technology, 8 Powstańców Warszawy Avenue, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
- Rzeszów
University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, 6 Powstan ´ców Warszawy Avenue, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Joanna Nizioł
- Rzeszów
University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, 6 Powstan ´ców Warszawy Avenue, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
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3
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Hollerbach AL, Ibrahim YM, Lin VS, Schultz KJ, Huntley AP, Armentrout PB, Metz TO, Ewing RG. Identification of Unique Fragmentation Patterns of Fentanyl Analog Protomers Using Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations Ion Mobility-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2024; 35:793-803. [PMID: 38469802 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.4c00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The opioid crisis in the United States is being fueled by the rapid emergence of new fentanyl analogs and precursors that can elude traditional library-based screening methods, which require data from known reference compounds. Since reference compounds are unavailable for new fentanyl analogs, we examined if fentanyls (fentanyl + fentanyl analogs) could be identified in a reference-free manner using a combination of electrospray ionization (ESI), high-resolution ion mobility (IM) spectrometry, high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS), and higher-energy collision-induced dissociation (MS/MS). We analyzed a mixture containing nine fentanyls and W-15 (a structurally similar molecule) and found that the protonated forms of all fentanyls exhibited two baseline-separated IM distributions that produced different MS/MS patterns. Upon fragmentation, both IM distributions of all fentanyls produced two high intensity fragments, resulting from amine site cleavages. The higher mobility distributions of all fentanyls also produced several low intensity fragments, but surprisingly, these same fragments exhibited much greater intensities in the lower mobility distributions. This observation demonstrates that many fragments of fentanyls predominantly originate from one of two different gas-phase structures (suggestive of protomers). Furthermore, increasing the water concentration in the ESI solution increased the intensity of the lower mobility distribution relative to the higher mobility distribution, which further supports that fentanyls exist as two gas-phase protomers. Our observations on the IM and MS/MS properties of fentanyls can be exploited to positively differentiate fentanyls from other compounds without requiring reference libraries and will hopefully assist first responders and law enforcement in combating new and emerging fentanyls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L Hollerbach
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Yehia M Ibrahim
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Vivian S Lin
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Katherine J Schultz
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Adam P Huntley
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - P B Armentrout
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Thomas O Metz
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Robert G Ewing
- Nuclear, Chemistry & Biology Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
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4
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Diekhans K, Yu J, Farley M, Rodda LN. Analysis of over 250 novel synthetic opioids and xylazine by LC-MS-MS in blood and urine. J Anal Toxicol 2024:bkae009. [PMID: 38459917 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkae009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel Synthetic Opioids (NSO) are frequently found in postmortem (PM) and human performance (HP) forensic toxicology casework, resulting in impairment and fatal overdoses. Developing a broad NSO method benefits public health, as it can be used to identify trends in potent opioid use to develop risk management programs. This project aimed to design a comprehensive, rapid and routine method for the selective analysis of over 250 novel synthetic opioids in blood and urine. This method rapidly extracted 150 µL of blood or urine via protein precipitation followed by size-exclusion filtration, evaporation and reconstitution. Separation and data acquisition were achieved on a 12 min LC-MS-MS method using an F5 column. Data processing was expedited with a custom built-in query created in-house that automated processing and enhanced quality assurance. Validation according to ASB/ANSI Standard 036 was performed and applicability of the method was assessed using proficiency test and authentic casework samples. Assessed in blood and urine qualitatively were 261 unique analytes including fentanyl analogs (fentalogs), nitazenes and other miscellaneous synthetic opioids. As 59 isomeric target analytes were placed into groups due to co-elution, there were 202 distinct acquired targets or target - groups. To demonstrate applicability, 27 proficiency test blood samples received over an approximate 4-year period were analyzed with 126 expected results assessed comprising 25 unique target analytes. Additionally, 617 fatal accidental overdoses within San Francisco in 2022 were retroactively analyzed by this method with almost 10% of cases containing a new NSO substance(s). Such trends and NSO substances were previously unknown in this community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Diekhans
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 1 Newhall Street, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jihau Yu
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 1 Newhall Street, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Megan Farley
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 1 Newhall Street, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Luke N Rodda
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 1 Newhall Street, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Fransisco, CA, United States
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5
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Atta S, Canning AJ, Vo-Dinh T. Rapid SERS assay for determination of the opioid fentanyl using silver-coated sharply branched gold nanostars. Mikrochim Acta 2024; 191:110. [PMID: 38252139 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-023-06172-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
A high-throughput surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-sensing platform is presented for FNT detection in human urine without any sample preparation. The sensing platform is based on plasmonics-active silver-coated sharply branched gold nanostars (SGNS). The effect of silver thickness was investigated experimentally and theoretically, and the results indicated that SERS enhancement was maximum at an optimum silver thickness of 45 nm on the sharply spiked SGNS. The proposed high-throughput SERS platform exhibited ultrahigh sensitivity and excellent enhancement uniformity for a model analyte, i.e., crystal violet. Moreover, the SERS-sensing platform demonstrated good sensitivity of FNT spiked in human urine samples with two differential linear response ranges of 2 to 0.2 µg/mL and 0.1 µg/mL to 100 pg/mL, respectively, with a detection limit as low as 10.02 pg/mL. The spiked human urine samples show satisfactory recovery values from 92.5 to 102% with relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 10%. In summary, the high-throughput performance of the proposed microplate-based SERS platform demonstrated great potential for rapid low-cost SERS-based sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Atta
- Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Aidan J Canning
- Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Tuan Vo-Dinh
- Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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Halifax JC, Lim L, Ciccarone D, Lynch KL. Testing the test strips: laboratory performance of fentanyl test strips. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:14. [PMID: 38238757 PMCID: PMC10795297 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00921-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The overdose crisis driven by synthetic opioids continues to escalate in the USA. We evaluated the efficacy of multiple manufacturing lots of a fentanyl test strip (FTS) to detect fentanyl and fentanyl analogs and assessed cross-reactivity with possible interferences. METHODS Drug standards were dissolved in water in a laboratory setting and serially diluted. Drug dilutions were tested using five different manufacturing lots of BTNX Rapid Response (20 ng/mL cutoff) lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay strips to assess lot-to-lot variability for FTS sensitivity and cross-reactivity for the analytes of interest. RESULTS All five manufacturing lots cross-reacted with fentanyl and eleven fentanyl analogs. Diphenhydramine, lidocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine were found to cause false positives with the strips. There was notable lot-to-lot variability in the sensitivity of the strips for fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and known interferences. DISCUSSION FTS remains an important overdose prevention tool, but lot-to-lot variability in performance complicates robust instructions that balance the prevention of false positives and false negatives. Continued lot-to-lot performance assessment is recommended to ensure health education for FTS remains accurate. More sophisticated drug checking technologies and services are needed in the community landscape to augment personal FTS use to facilitate informed consumption and overdose risk mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Halifax
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ZSFG Clinical Laboratory, UCSF, 1001 Potrero Ave. Bldg. 5 2M16, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA.
| | - Lilly Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ZSFG Clinical Laboratory, UCSF, 1001 Potrero Ave. Bldg. 5 2M16, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | - Daniel Ciccarone
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 500 Parnassus Avenue, MU-3E, Box 900, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Kara L Lynch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ZSFG Clinical Laboratory, UCSF, 1001 Potrero Ave. Bldg. 5 2M16, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
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7
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Matey JM, Zapata F, Menéndez-Quintanal LM, Montalvo G, García-Ruiz C. Identification of new psychoactive substances and their metabolites using non-targeted detection with high-resolution mass spectrometry through diagnosing fragment ions/neutral loss analysis. Talanta 2023; 265:124816. [PMID: 37423179 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel Matey
- Department of Chemistry and Drugs, National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, C/ José Echegaray Nº4, 28232, Las Rozas de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Universidad de Alcalá, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Policiales (IUICP), calle Libreros 27, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España(1); Chemical and Forensic Sciences (CINQUIFOR) Research Group, University of Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.600, 28871, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain(2).
| | - Félix Zapata
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Luis Manuel Menéndez-Quintanal
- Department of Chemistry and Drugs, National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, La Cuesta, 38320, La Laguna (Sta. Cruz de Tenerife), Spain.
| | - Gemma Montalvo
- Universidad de Alcalá, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Policiales (IUICP), calle Libreros 27, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España(1); Chemical and Forensic Sciences (CINQUIFOR) Research Group, University of Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.600, 28871, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain(2); Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Quimica Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33,6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España.
| | - Carmen García-Ruiz
- Universidad de Alcalá, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Policiales (IUICP), calle Libreros 27, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España(1); Chemical and Forensic Sciences (CINQUIFOR) Research Group, University of Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.600, 28871, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain(2); Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Quimica Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33,6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España.
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8
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Hasan MR, Spivak DA. Benzylfentanyl as a Surrogate Template for Fentanyl-Selective Imprinted Polymers. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3669. [PMID: 37765523 PMCID: PMC10537390 DOI: 10.3390/polym15183669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The illicit use of fentanyl has led to hundreds of thousands of opioid-related deaths worldwide. Therefore, the detection of fentanyl by law enforcement and recreational users is of utmost importance. However, current detection methods are expensive, time-consuming, require special storage conditions, and necessitate complex instrumentation that is generally unportable and requires skilled personnel to operate. An alternative approach would be using molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as the recognition component of a handheld sensor, testing strip, or color-based assay. In this work, a molecularly imprinted polymer was constructed using the functional monomer methacrylic acid (MAA) and the cross-linking monomer ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), with benzylfentanyl (Bfen) as the template. The use of benzylfentanyl is advantageous because it closely mimics fentanyl's structure but does not cause any physiological narcotic effects. Important studies herein determined the optimum ratio of the template/functional monomer, with subsequent evaluations of selectivity of the MIP for the template and fentanyl versus the commonly encountered narcotics such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. The data obtained from the HPLC analysis showed that the Bfen-MIP was successful in selectively binding the template and actual fentanyl, better than other common narcotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Ragib Hasan
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - David A Spivak
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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9
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Palmquist KB, Truver MT, Shoff EN, Krotulski AJ, Swortwood MJ. Review of analytical methods for screening and quantification of fentanyl analogs and novel synthetic opioids in biological specimens. J Forensic Sci 2023; 68:1643-1661. [PMID: 37221651 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and other novel synthetic opioids (NSO), including nitazene analogs, prevail in forensic toxicology casework. Analytical methods for identifying these drugs in biological specimens need to be robust, sensitive, and specific. Isomers, new analogs, and slight differences in structural modifications necessitate the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), especially as a non-targeted screening method designed to detect newly emerging drugs. Traditional forensic toxicology workflows, such as immunoassay and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), are generally not sensitive enough for detection of NSOs due to observed low (sub-μg/L) concentrations. For this review, the authors tabulated, reviewed, and summarized analytical methods from 2010-2022 for screening and quantification of fentanyl analogs and other NSOs in biological specimens using a variety of different instruments and sample preparation approaches. Limits of detection or quantification for 105 methods were included and compared to published standards and guidelines for suggested scope and sensitivity in forensic toxicology casework. Methods were summarized by instrument for screening and quantitative methods for fentanyl analogs and for nitazenes and other NSO. Toxicological testing for fentanyl analogs and NSOs is increasingly and most commonly being conducted using a variety of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based techniques. Most of the recent analytical methods reviewed exhibited limits of detection well below 1 μg/L to detect low concentrations of increasingly potent drugs. In addition, it was observed that most newly developed methods are now using smaller sample volumes which is achievable due to the sensitivity increase gained by new technology and new instrumentation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael T Truver
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Elisa N Shoff
- Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alex J Krotulski
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Fredric Rieders Family Foundation, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Madeleine J Swortwood
- Department of Forensic Science, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
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10
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Uljon S. Advances in fentanyl testing. Adv Clin Chem 2023; 116:1-30. [PMID: 37852717 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that was approved by the FDA in the late 1960s. In the decades since, non-prescription use of fentanyl, its analogs, and structurally unrelated novel synthetic opioids (NSO) has become a worsening public health crisis. There is a clear need for accessible testing for these substances in biological specimens and in apprehended drugs. Immunoassays for fentanyl in urine are available but their performance is restricted to facilities that hold moderate complexity laboratory licenses. Immunoassays for other matrices such as oral fluid (OF), blood, and meconium have been developed but are not widely available. Point of care tests (POCT), such as lateral flow immunoassays or fentanyl test strips (FTS), are widely available but not approved by the FDA for clinical use. All immunoassays are vulnerable to false positive and false negative results. Immunoassays may or may not be able to detect fentanyl analogs and NSOs. Mass spectrometry (MS) can accurately and reliably measure fentanyl and its major metabolite norfentanyl in urine and oral fluid. MS is available at reference laboratories and large hospitals. Liquid chromatography paired with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the most widely used method and has outstanding specificity and sensitivity for fentanyl and norfentanyl. When compared to immunoassays, MS is more expensive, requires more technical skill, and takes longer to result. Newer mass spectrometry methods can measure fentanyl analogs and NSO. Both mass spectrometry assays and immunoassays [in the form of fentanyl test strips (FTS)] have potential use in harm reduction programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sacha Uljon
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
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11
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Lynch KL. A case series evaluation of comprehensive drug testing in the pediatric acute care setting. J Mass Spectrom Adv Clin Lab 2023; 28:75-79. [PMID: 36909288 PMCID: PMC9995460 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsacl.2023.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Drug testing typically follows a one-size-fits-all approach that is inadequate in some clinical scenarios, such as child maltreatment, neglect, and unintentional drug exposure. Results from immunoassay-based testing, which are non-specific, insensitive, and far from comprehensive, can lead to unintended consequences for children and their families. Objectives The objective of this retrospective case series study is to evaluate the utility of real-time (0-1 day) comprehensive drug testing as an alternative to immunoassay-based testing in the pediatric acute care setting. Methods Comprehensive drug testing results obtained by mass spectrometry testing and associated medical data for all pediatric cases (0-12 years) at one institution from 2019 to 2022 were included in the analysis. The final case series (n = 7) included all cases from patients <3 years with comprehensive drug testing results that were inconsistent with medication history and/or toxicology results by immunoassay. Results Comprehensive drug testing by mass spectrometry was ordered for 174 urine and blood samples representing 97 patients (0-12 years) from 2019 to 2022. Of these, 76 cases were from patients <3 years old; results were consistent with medication history and confirmatory for immunoassay results (n = 34), consistent with medication history (n = 14), confirmatory for immunoassay results (n = 10), negative (n = 9), or medical history was incomplete (n = 2). The remaining 7 cases were included in the final case series. Conclusions The cases highlight the value of real-time comprehensive drug testing in acute pediatric cases. Testing results can rule out toxic exposure from the diagnostic differential when negative, and lead to appropriate medical and social interventions when positive.
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Key Words
- Analytical toxicology
- CT, computerized tomography
- Clinical toxicology
- Comprehensive drug testing
- DARS2, asparyl-tRNA sythetase 2
- Drug exposure
- Drug testing
- EKG, electrocardiogram
- FDA, Food and Drug Administration
- GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale
- High resolution mass spectrometry
- LC-HRMS, liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry
- LC-MS/MS, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
- LDT, laboratory developed test
- Laboratory developed test
- MS, mass spectrometry
- OTC, over-the-counter
- POUNCE, pediatric opioid-use-associated neurotoxicity with cerebellar edema syndrome
- Pediatric toxicology
- UCSF, University of California San Francisco
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara L Lynch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Ave., Building 5, 2M16, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
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12
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Fitch BA, Lynch KL, Liao HC. Unexpected Fentanyl Detection during a Liver Transplant Evaluation. Clin Chem 2023; 69:222-225. [PMID: 36857214 DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Briana A Fitch
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kara L Lynch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Hsuan-Chieh Liao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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13
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Williams GR, Akala M, Wolf CE. Detection of 58 fentanyl analogs using ARK fentanyl II and Immunalysis fentanyl immunoassays. Clin Biochem 2023; 113:45-51. [PMID: 36610468 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The ability to detect fentanyl analogs in urine aids in patient management. Little is published about the new ARK™ Fentanyl II Assay formulation's ability to detect fentanyl analogs. Norfentanyl (fentanyl metabolite) cross-reactivity with the ARK II assays is 7%, while the Immunalysis SEFRIA assay norfentanyl cross-reactivity is approximately 0.005%. The purpose of this study was to determine the new ARK II and SEFRIA fentanyl assays' detection of 58 fentanyl analogs. DESIGN & METHODS Drug-free urine was fortified with 0-100 ng/mL (0-0.297 µmol/L) of the fentanyl analog and analyzed using the previously evaluated immunoassays. Results were compared to molecular structure. Of the 58 analogs tested at ≤ 100 ng/mL (0-0.297 µmol/L), the ARK II and SEFRIA assays produced 51 and 57 positive results respectively. The cross-reactivity of the assay was predominantly determined by the location of the modification. Most modifications to the aniline ring and/or amide group did not affect the ARK II or SEFRIA assay. Modifications to the piperidine ring decreased detection by ARK II assay. Of the 7 compounds which were undetected by the ARK II assay, all had modifications to the N-alkyl chain. Norsufentanil was not detected by either assay and was the only analog not detected by the SEFRIA assay. CONCLUSIONS The ARK II and Immunalysis fentanyl immunoassays can detect a range of fentanyl analogs with acryl, butyryl, or furanyl modifications to the amide group or aniline ring of the molecule. N-alkyl chain and piperidine ring modifications significantly affect the ARK II assay's ability to detect the analogs, while the SEFRIA assay appeared less affected and detected all analogs tested except for norsufentanil, which was also not detected by the ARK II assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace R Williams
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 403 North 13th Street, Clinical Support Center 626, Richmond, VA, 23298. United States.
| | - Modesola Akala
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 403 North 13th Street, Clinical Support Center 626, Richmond, VA, 23298. United States.
| | - Carl E Wolf
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 403 North 13th Street, Clinical Support Center 626, Richmond, VA, 23298. United States.
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Chen X, Shu W, Zhao L, Wan J. Advanced mass spectrometric and spectroscopic methods coupled with machine learning for in vitro diagnosis. VIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/viw.20220038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Chen
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Weikang Shu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Liang Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Jingjing Wan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China Normal University Shanghai China
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