Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method for the Quantitative identification of 23 New Psychoactive Substances in Blood and Urine

Lorna A Nisbet (Lead / Corresponding author), Fiona M Wylie, Barry K. Logan, Karen S Scott

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

New psychoactive substances (NPSs) have become an integral part of the recreational drug market with “new” compounds being reported by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction weekly. Due to the changing nature of NPSs, it is impractical to carry out single analyte or even simple class quantitation. Although several gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) methods have been developed these are typically class specific. We present a validated GC–MS method for the quantitation of 2-DPMP, 3-MeO-PCE, 3-MeO-PCP, 5-APB, 6-APB, benzedrone, butylone, ethylone, flephedrone, methiopropamine, MDPV, mephedrone, methoxetamine, methylone, naphyrone, 25B-NBOME, 25C-NBOME, 25D-NBOMe, 25E-NBOME, 25H-NBOME, 25I-NBOME, Mescaline-NBOME and 25P-NBOME in blood and urine samples. Sample preparation was carried out using solid-phase extraction followed by derivatisation and analysis by GC–MS. Parameters investigated for validation included bias, precision, linear calibration model, carryover, interferences, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and autosampler and freeze/thaw stability. All drugs yielded successful results for each of these parameters as per SWGTOX guidelines. The GC–MS method was used for the reanalysis of 12 blood samples (eight cases) where 25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe, methoxetamine and methylone had previously been detected by NMS laboratories. This GC–MS method was able to quantitatively detect these drugs in 75% of the blood samples, 42% of which contained either 25C-NBOMe or 25I-NBOMe. This method accurately allows for the simultaneous quantification of a wide variety of compounds via GC–MS, in particular NBOMe compounds which are typically analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry which is not available in all laboratories.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)346-352
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Analytical Toxicology
Volume43
Issue number5
Early online date30 Jan 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jan 2019

Keywords

  • NPS
  • GC-MS
  • new psychoactive substances

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method for the Quantitative identification of 23 New Psychoactive Substances in Blood and Urine'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this