Designer psychostimulants in urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Sarah Kerrigan, Ashley Mott, Breanna Jatzlau, Francisco Ortiz, Laura Perrella, Sarah Martin, Kelsie Bryand
Journal of Forensic Sciences January 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12306 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA new laboratory method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) can detect 15 designer psychostimulants in urine at very low concentrations. The drugs include various 2C-phenethylamines, DOx amphetamines, and 4-MTA. Using solid-phase extraction, analytical recoveries ranged from 64% to 92%, and the limit of detection was 0.5 ng/mL for all drugs except 2C-B (1 ng/mL). The technique was evaluated for recovery, precision, accuracy, linearity, matrix effects, and interferences, enabling simultaneous detection of these substances at sub-ng/mL levels. Many such drugs are not targeted in routine toxicology testing and thus go unreported.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Method development and validation Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Amphetamines Designer drugs Forensic science Urine Designer drug detection |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key finding | A validated LC-MS/MS method can simultaneously detect 15 designer psychostimulants in urine at sub-ng/mL concentrations. |
Abstract
Designer psychostimulants are known by recreational drug users to produce a complex array of adrenergic and hallucinogenic effects. Many of these drugs are not targeted during routine toxicology testing and as a consequence, they are rarely reported. The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure for the detection of 15 psychostimulants in urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), specifically 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenethylamine (2C-C), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenethylamine (2C-D), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylphenethylamine (2C-E), 2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-H), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine (2C-I), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-2), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-isopropylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-4), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine (DOB), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine (DOET), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM), and 4-methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA). Analytical recoveries using solid-phase extraction were 64-92% and the limit of detection was 0.5 ng/mL for all drugs except 2C-B (1 ng/mL). The assay was evaluated in terms of analytical recovery, precision, accuracy, linearity, matrix effect, and interferences. The technique allows for the simultaneous detection of 15 psychostimulants at sub-ng/mL concentrations.