Joseph H Kennedy1, Jan Palaty2, Chris G Gill3,4,5,6, Justin M Wiseman1. 1. Prosolia Inc., Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. 2. LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services, Burnaby, BC, V5G 4V8, Canada. 3. Vancouver Island University, Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), Chemistry Department, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5, Canada. 4. University of Victoria, Department of Chemistry, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada. 5. Simon Fraser University, Department of Chemistry, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. 6. University of Washington, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Drug overdose deaths due to fentanyls and other novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are on the rise. The higher potencies of fentanyl analogs compared with morphine require new technologies to identify and quantitate NPS. METHODS: Paper spray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry were used to identify and measure fentanyl analogs as well as common drugs of abuse in urine samples from substance use disorder clinics. Ten-microliter urine samples were deposited directly on paper spray cartridges previously loaded with internal standards, dried, and analyzed with no other sample treatment. Quantitative results were obtained using MS/MS. Individual drugs were identified using high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry, and confirmed by data-dependent MS/MS. RESULTS: Calibration curves in urine were linear over a range of 0.5-50 ng/mL with R2 of 0.99 or better for eight representative fentanyl analogs. Cartridges preloaded with internal standards demonstrated satisfactory quantitative results compared with LC/MS. Direct identification and confirmation of fentanyl analogs and other common drugs of abuse in urine using high-resolution accurate mass and MS/MS fragmentation were demonstrated at low picogram levels. CONCLUSIONS: Paper spray mass spectrometry can reliably identify and quantitate fentanyl analogs and other drugs of abuse in urine. Using paper spray cartridges as collection devices reduces exposure and transportation risks associated with biological fluids. Cartridges preloaded with labeled internal standards can be effective for targeted screening of fentanyl analogs and other drugs of abuse.
RATIONALE: Drug overdose deaths due to fentanyls and other novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are on the rise. The higher potencies of fentanyl analogs compared with morphine require new technologies to identify and quantitate NPS. METHODS: Paper spray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry were used to identify and measure fentanyl analogs as well as common drugs of abuse in urine samples from substance use disorder clinics. Ten-microliter urine samples were deposited directly on paper spray cartridges previously loaded with internal standards, dried, and analyzed with no other sample treatment. Quantitative results were obtained using MS/MS. Individual drugs were identified using high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry, and confirmed by data-dependent MS/MS. RESULTS: Calibration curves in urine were linear over a range of 0.5-50 ng/mL with R2 of 0.99 or better for eight representative fentanyl analogs. Cartridges preloaded with internal standards demonstrated satisfactory quantitative results compared with LC/MS. Direct identification and confirmation of fentanyl analogs and other common drugs of abuse in urine using high-resolution accurate mass and MS/MS fragmentation were demonstrated at low picogram levels. CONCLUSIONS: Paper spray mass spectrometry can reliably identify and quantitate fentanyl analogs and other drugs of abuse in urine. Using paper spray cartridges as collection devices reduces exposure and transportation risks associated with biological fluids. Cartridges preloaded with labeled internal standards can be effective for targeted screening of fentanyl analogs and other drugs of abuse.
Authors: Daniel O Carmany; Phillip M Mach; Gabrielle M Rizzo; Elizabeth S Dhummakupt; Ethan M McBride; Jennifer W Sekowski; Bernard Benton; Paul S Demond; Michael W Busch; Trevor Glaros Journal: J Am Soc Mass Spectrom Date: 2018-10-02 Impact factor: 3.109