Automated extraction of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and N-demethyl-LSD from blood, serum, plasma, and urine samples using the Zymark RapidTrace with LC/MS/MS confirmation

A forensic procedure for the quantitative confirmation of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and the qualitative confirmation of its metabolite, N-demethyl-LSD, in blood, serum, plasma, and urine samples is presented. The Zymark RapidTrace was used to perform fully automated solid-phase extractions of all specimen types. After extract evaporation, confirmations were performed using liquid chromatography (LC) followed by positive electrospray ionization (ESI+) mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) without derivatization. Quantitation of LSD was accomplished using LSD-d3 as an internal standard. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) for LSD was 0.05 ng/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) for both LSD and N-demethyl-LSD was 0.025 ng/mL. The recovery of LSD was greater than 95% at levels of 0.1 ng/mL and 2.0 ng/mL. For LSD at 1.0 ng/mL, the within-run and between-run (different day) relative standard deviation (RSD) was 2.2% and 4.4%, respectively.

Simultaneous analysis of 14 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in human serum by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry without chromatography

A method is described for the simultaneous analysis of 14 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in human serum using negative electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). After addition of internal standard and protein precipitation using acetonitrile, samples were transferred to autosampler vials for direct analysis without chromatography. Injection of an air bubble with the sample and a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method using argon collision-induced dissociation (CID) of analyte (M-H)- ions permitted integration of the product ion peak areas to produce reproducible quantitative data over the range of concentrations expected in serum during routine use of these drugs. The method permitted the analysis of 30 samples per hour. Two hundred fifty consecutive analyses did not adversely affect instrument sensitivity.

Extraction of benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite) and opiates (codeine and morphine) from urine samples using the Zymark RapidTrace

The Zymark RapidTrace automated solid-phase extraction system has been evaluated for use in the urine drug-testing laboratory. Methods for cocaine metabolite (benzoylecgonine) and opiates (codeine and morphine) are described and evaluated. The linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, and carryover statistics of these analytical protocols are presented. The advantages of extraction using the RapidTrace instead of solid-phase extraction with the manual vacuum manifold or liquid-liquid extraction methods are described.

Limit for qualitative detection of benzoylecgonine in urine using EMIT reagents and the Hitachi 705 automatic analyzer

The limit of detection for the cocaine metabolite (hydrolysis product), benzoylecgonine, using Syva EMIT reagents and the Hitachi 705 automatic analyzer has been found to be 10 ng/mL at the 99% confidence level. For this determination 30 controls were prepared from a single urine pool known to be negative for cocaine metabolite. Urine samples of 90 patients were found to be drug-free when analyzed by selected ion monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for ecgonine methyl ester and benzoylecgonine at sensitivities of less than 0.4 ng/mL and 1.3 ng/mL, respectively. To test matrix effects on the limit of detection, these samples were screened with the Hitachi 705. Results for eight of the known negative samples fell above the 10-ng/mL limit of detection while only one presumptive positive resulted at an arbitrary 20-ng/mL cutoff. Detection limits were also determined using 20 different negative patients' urine samples fortified with benzoylecgonine. At the 99% confidence level using EMIT d.a.u. and 705 reagents the detection limits were found to be 44 ng/mL and 35 ng/mL, respectively. It was found that 62% of patients' samples positive for benzoylecgonine fell below the 300-ng/mL cutoff and above a cutoff at 50 ng/mL.

Extending the detection limit of the TDx fluorescence polarization immunoassay for benzoylecgonine in urine

This modified calibration method decreases from 300 to 27 micrograms/L the limit of detection for the cocaine metabolite (hydrolysis product), benzoylecgonine, by the Abbott Laboratories TDx fluorescence polarization immunoassay. For this determination we used 30 controls prepared from a single urine pool known to be negative for cocaine metabolite. Assay of 80 controls prepared from 20 different patients' urine samples yielded a limit of detection of 44 micrograms/L. To test these limits of detection, we analyzed 90 patients' urine samples known to be negative for cocaine metabolite and 74 patients' samples known to be positive for cocaine metabolite, using the TDx with our revised calibration. Results for two of the known negative samples and 96% of the samples containing cocaine in the 50 to 100 micrograms/L range fell above the 44 micrograms/L limit. The TDx showed excellent calibration stability. For 28 days during the test, the instrument was not recalibrated. During this period the day-to-day analysis of 50 micrograms/L controls produced a mean TDx response of 0.485 (SD 0.007) with a coefficient of variation of 1.5%.

Extending the detection limit of the TDx fluorescence polarization immunoassay for benzoylecgonine in urine

This modified calibration method decreases from 300 to 27 micrograms/L the limit of detection for the cocaine metabolite (hydrolysis product), benzoylecgonine, by the Abbott Laboratories TDx fluorescence polarization immunoassay. For this determination we used 30 controls prepared from a single urine pool known to be negative for cocaine metabolite. Assay of 80 controls prepared from 20 different patients' urine samples yielded a limit of detection of 44 micrograms/L. To test these limits of detection, we analyzed 90 patients' urine samples known to be negative for cocaine metabolite and 74 patients' samples known to be positive for cocaine metabolite, using the TDx with our revised calibration. Results for two of the known negative samples and 96% of the samples containing cocaine in the 50 to 100 micrograms/L range fell above the 44 micrograms/L limit. The TDx showed excellent calibration stability. For 28 days during the test, the instrument was not recalibrated. During this period the day-to-day analysis of 50 micrograms/L controls produced a mean TDx response of 0.485 (SD 0.007) with a coefficient of variation of 1.5%.