Simultaneous determination of methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine and their metabolites in urine using a rapid and simple HS-SPME-GC-MS method: A forensic study on drug abuse patterns in South Korea.
Juhyun Sim, So Young Kyung, Jiyeong Jo, Hyeyoung Choi, Sujin Jeong, Nahyun Lee, Suncheun Kim
Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences July 14, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2025.124720 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Method development and validation with application to authentic samples Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 95 |
| Population | Urine samples from individuals in South Korea, likely from forensic or clinical settings |
| Topics | Ketamine MDMA Esketamine |
| Keywords | Hs-spme-gc–ms Methamphetamine Polydrug abuse Substance analysis Drug screening Toxicological analysis Drug monitoring Co-ingestion Multiple drug use Concurrent drug use Drug dependency MDMA-Ketamine Psychoactive substances Recreational drugs Narcotics |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | 32 of 72 MDMA- or ketamine-positive urine samples tested positive for both substances, indicating widespread co-ingestion of MDMA and ketamine in South Korea's club scene. |
Abstract
The increasing abuse of stimulants such as methamphetamine (MA) and 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), along with the dissociative anesthetic ketamine (KET), poses a significant challenge in forensic toxicology in South Korea. To improve forensic toxicology analysis of polydrug use, a rapid and reliable method was developed for the simultaneous detection of MA, MDMA, KET, and their metabolites in urine using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The method was optimized to enhance extraction efficiency while minimizing carry-over. Validation showed excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99), acceptable limits of detection (5-20 ng/mL) and quantitation (10-50 ng/mL), satisfactory precision and accuracy. Analysis of 95 authentic urine samples revealed widespread polydrug use, with 32 of 72 MDMA- or KET-positive cases testing positive for both substances. The metabolite-to-parent drug ratio of NKET/KET was significantly higher than that of AM/MA and MDA/MDMA, suggesting faster metabolism of KET. The validated HS-SPME-GC-MS method provides a reliable, solvent-free, and high-throughput approach for detecting MA, MDMA, and KET in forensic urine analysis. The findings highlight the prevalence of MDMA-KET co-ingestion in South Korea's club scene and emphasize the need for improved monitoring of polydrug abuse.