Citation

Ong RS, Kappatos DC, Russell SGG, Poulsen HA, Banister SD, Gerona RRL, Glass M, Johnson CS, McCarthy MJ. Drug Test. Anal. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR), Porirua, 5022, New Zealand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/dta.2697

PMID

31595682

Abstract

We describe the validation of a method for the simultaneous analysis of 29 synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) and metabolites, four amphetamines and two cannabinoids in human whole blood. This method enables one analysis to cover what previously required multiple analyses for these classic and novel drugs-of-abuse with diverse physicochemical properties. The scope of targeted analytes was based on the most prevalent drugs-of-abuse and SCs encountered at the New Zealand border in 2017 and included parent compounds and metabolites belonging to the indole and indazole carboxamide, quinolinyl indole carboxylate and naphthoylindole classifications. Samples were prepared by supported-liquid-extraction followed by LC-MS/MS analysis with positive ESI. The method was validated with respect to selectivity, matrix effects, process efficiency, sensitivity, repeatability, extract stability and carryover for qualitative confirmation. Linearity as well as accuracy and precision data at target decision concentrations were also evaluated. The limits of detection and confirmation ranged from 0.1 - 6.0 ng/mL and 1.0 - 6.0 ng/mL respectively. The described method was successfully applied to the analysis of 564 ante- and post-mortem blood samples in 2018. There were 132 cases (23%) with positive findings of at least one SC, with the five most commonly detected SCs being AMB-FUBINACA and/or acid (61%), 5F-ADB and/or acid (40%), ADB-FUBINACA (11%), 5F-MDMB-PICA acid (6%) and MDMB-FUBINACA acid (6%). The results also demonstrate the predominant presence of metabolites at higher levels than the unchanged parent SCs in blood, highlighting the need to maintain forensic screening methods capable of the simultaneous detection of both parent compounds and metabolites.

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Language: en

Keywords

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS); LC-MS/MS; NPS; New Zealand; Supported-liquid-extraction (SLE); Synthetic cannabinoids