A screening method for 30 drugs in hair using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Determination of Selected Opiates in Hair Samples Using Microextraction by Packed Sorbent: A New Approach for Sample Clean-up

In this article the development and validation of an analytical method using microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) to determine tramadol (TRM), codeine (COD), morphine (MOR), 6-acetylcodeine (6-AC), 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and fentanyl (FNT) in hair samples by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS-MS) is presented. The MEPS used a mixed mode sorbent, and the steps for sample cleanup were conditioning (three cycles of 250 μL of methanol and three cycles of 250 μL formic acid 2%); sample load (15 cycles of 150 μL); wash (150 μL of 3.36% formic acid); and elution (eight cycles of 100 μL of ammonium hydroxide 2.36% (in methanol)). Linearity was obtained from the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) up to 5 ng/mg, with all target compounds revealing determination coefficients >0.99. The LLOQs achieved were 0.01 ng/mg for TRM, COD and 6-AC, and 0.025 ng/mg for MOR, 6-MAM and FNT. The recoveries ranged from 74 to 90% (TRM), 51 to 59% (COD), 22 to 36% (MOR), 69 to 99% (6-AC), 53 to 61% (6-MAM) and 75 to 86% (FNT). Precision and accuracy revealed coefficients of variation typically below 15% and relative errors within a ±15% interval, respectively. This new approach has proven to be an excellent alternative to classic procedures, reducing the volumes of organic solvents required.

High Rates of Tramadol Use among Treatment-Seeking Adolescents in Malmö, Sweden: A Study of Hair Analysis of Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use

Background

Nonmedical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) is a growing problem and tramadol has been suggested as an emerging problem in young treatment-seeking individuals. The aim of the present study was to investigate, through hair analysis, NMPOU in this group and, specifically, tramadol use.

Methods

In a study including 73 treatment-seeking adolescents and young adults at an outpatient facility for young substance users, hair specimens could be obtained from 59 subjects. Data were extracted on sociodemographic background variables and psychiatric diagnoses through MINI interviews.

Results

In hair analysis, tramadol was by far the most prevalent opioid detected. Thirty-two percent screened positive for opioids, and of those, all but one were positive for tramadol. Ninety-eight percent reported problematic cannabis use. Significantly more opioid-positive patients also screened positive for other (noncannabis) drugs, compared to nonopioid users. Sixty-four percent fulfilled criteria of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders, other than substance use disorders according to MINI. Fifty-three percent met the symptom criteria count of ADHD above cut-off level.

Conclusion

In the present setting, tramadol, along with high rates of cannabis use, may represent a novel pattern of substance use among young treatment-seeking subjects with problematic substance use and high rates of concurrent psychiatric problems.

Quantitative analysis of drugs in hair by UHPLC high resolution mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatographic methods coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry are increasingly used to identify compounds in various matrices including hair but there are few recommendations regarding the parameters and their criteria to identify a compound. In this study we present a method for the identification and quantification of a range of drugs and discuss the parameters used to identify a compound with high resolution mass spectrometry. Drugs were extracted from hair by incubation in a buffer:solvent mixture at 37°C during 18h. Analysis was performed on a chromatographic system comprised of an Agilent 6550 QTOF coupled to a 1290 Infinity UHPLC system. High resolution accurate mass data were acquired in the All Ions mode and exported into Mass Hunter Quantitative software for quantitation and identification using qualifier fragment ions. Validation included selectivity, matrix effects, calibration range, within day and between day precision and accuracy. The analytes were 7-amino-flunitrazepam, 7-amino-clonazepam, 7-amino-nitrazepam, acetylmorphine, alimemazine, alprazolam, amphetamine, benzoylecgonine, buprenorphine, diazepam, ethylmorphine, fentanyl, hydroxyzine, ketobemidone, codeine, cocaine, MDMA, methadone, methamphetamine, morphine, oxycodone, promethazine, propiomazine, propoxyphene, tramadol, zaleplone, zolpidem, and zopiclone. As proof of concept, hair from 29 authentic post mortem cases were analysed. The calibration range was established between 0.05ng/mg to 5.0ng/mg for all analytes except fentanyl (0.02-2.0), buprenorphine (0.04-2.0), and ketobemidone (0.05-4.0) as well as for alimemazine, amphetamine, cocaine, methadone, and promethazine (0.10-5.0). For all analytes, the accuracy of the fortified pooled hair matrix was 84-108% at the low level and 89-106% at the high level. The within series precisions were between 1.4 and 6.7% and the between series precisions were between 1.4 and 10.1%. From the 29 autopsy cases, 121 positive findings were encountered from 23 of the analytes in concentrations similar to those previously published. We conclude that the developed method proved precise and accurate and that it had sufficient performance for the purpose of detecting regular use of drugs or treatment with prescription drugs. To identify a compound we recommend the use of ion ratios as a complement to instrument software "matching scores".

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging for the rapid segmental analysis of methamphetamine in a single hair using umbelliferone as a matrix

Segmental hair analysis offers a longer period for retrospective drug detection than blood or urine. Hair is a keratinous fiber and is strongly hydrophobic. The embedding of drugs in hydrophobic hair at low concentrations makes it difficult for extraction and detection with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) coupled with mass spectrometric imaging (MSI). In this study, a single scalp hair was longitudinally cut with a cryostat section to a length of 4 mm and fixed onto a stainless steel MALDI plate. Umbelliferone was used as a new hydrophobic matrix to enrich and assist the ionization efficiency of methamphetamine in the hair sample. MALDI-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)-MS profiling and imaging were performed for direct detection and mapping of methamphetamine on the longitudinal sections of the single hair sample in positive ion mode. Using MALDI-MSI, the distribution of methamphetamine was observed throughout five longitudinally sectioned hair samples from a drug abuser. The changes of methamphetamine were also semi-quantified by comparing the ratios of methamphetamine/internal standard (I.S). This method improves the detection sensitivity of target drugs embedded in a hair matrix for imaging with mass spectrometry. The method could provide a detection level of methamphetamine down to a nanogram per milligram incorporated into hair. The results were also compared with the conventional high performance liquid chromatography -tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. Changes in the imaging results over time by the MSI method showed good semi-quantitative correlation to the results from the HPLC-MS/MS method. This study provides a powerful tool for drug abuse control and forensic medicine analysis in a narrow time frame, and a reduction in the sample amount required.

Segmental analysis of amphetamines in hair using a sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS method

A sensitive and robust ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for quantification of amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine in hair samples. Segmented hair (10 mg) was incubated in 2M sodium hydroxide (80°C, 10 min) before liquid-liquid extraction with isooctane followed by centrifugation and evaporation of the organic phase to dryness. The residue was reconstituted in methanol:formate buffer pH 3 (20:80). The total run time was 4 min and after optimization of UHPLC-MS/MS-parameters validation included selectivity, matrix effects, recovery, process efficiency, calibration model and range, lower limit of quantification, precision and bias. The calibration curve ranged from 0.02 to 12.5 ng/mg, and the recovery was between 62 and 83%. During validation the bias was less than ±7% and the imprecision was less than 5% for all analytes. In routine analysis, fortified control samples demonstrated an imprecision <13% and control samples made from authentic hair demonstrated an imprecision <26%. The method was applied to samples from a controlled study of amphetamine intake as well as forensic hair samples previously analyzed with an ultra high performance liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS) screening method. The proposed method was suitable for quantification of these drugs in forensic cases including violent crimes, autopsy cases, drug testing and re-granting of driving licences. This study also demonstrated that if hair samples are divided into several short segments, the time point for intake of a small dose of amphetamine can be estimated, which might be useful when drug facilitated crimes are investigated.

LC-QTOF-MS as a superior strategy to immunoassay for the comprehensive analysis of synthetic cannabinoids in urine

The objective of this study was to compare the performance of an immunoassay screening for synthetic cannabinoids with a newly developed confirmation method using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The screening included metabolites from JWH-018, JWH-073, and AM-2201. The confirmation included metabolites from AM-2201, JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-073, JWH-081, JWH-122, JWH-210, JWH-250, JWH-398, MAM-2201, RCS-4, and UR-144. The immunoassay was tested and found to have no cross-reactivity with UR-144 metabolites but considerable cross-reactivity with MAM-2201 and JWH-122 metabolites. Sensitivity and specificity for the immunoassay were evaluated with 87 authentic urine samples and found to be 87% and 82%, respectively. With a cutoff at 2 ng/ml, the confirmation showed 80 positive findings in 38 cases. The most common finding was JWH-122 5-OH-pentyl, followed by JWH-018 5-OH-pentyl. There were 9 findings of UR-144 metabolites and 3 of JWH-073 metabolites. In summary, the immunoassay performed well, presenting both high sensitivity and specificity for the synthetic cannabinoids present in the urine samples tested. The rapid exchange of one cannabinoid for another may pose problems for immunoassays as well as for confirmation methods. However, we consider time-of-flight mass spectrometry to be superior since new metabolites can be quickly included and identified.