Short communication

Development of a rapid LC-MS/MS method for direct urinalysis of designer drugs

  1. Charlotte Bell1,
  2. Claire George2,*,
  3. Andrew T. Kicman1,
  4. Allan Traynor2

Article first published online: 11 JUL 2011

DOI: 10.1002/dta.306

Issue

Drug Testing and Analysis

Drug Testing and Analysis

Special Issue: New Psychoactive Substances

Volume 3, Issue 7-8, pages 496–504, July - August 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Bell, C., George, C., Kicman, A. T. and Traynor, A. (2011), Development of a rapid LC-MS/MS method for direct urinalysis of designer drugs. Drug Test Analysis, 3: 496–504. doi: 10.1002/dta.306

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Forensic Science and Drug Monitoring, Kings College London, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH

  2. 2

    Concateno, Harbour Quay, 100 Preston's Road, London E14 9PH

*Concateno, Harbour Quay, 100 Preston's Road, London E14 9PH, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 JUL 2011
  2. Article first published online: 11 JUL 2011
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 11 MAY 2011
  4. Manuscript Revised: 10 MAY 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 13 FEB 2011

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Keywords:

  • direct analysis;
  • LC-MS/MS;
  • designer drugs

Abstract

The current immunoassay screening methodologies used to detect sympathomimetic amines within the context of workplace drug testing may fail to detect a number of the emerging designer drugs, for example β-keto amphetamines and piperazine derivatives, commonly referred to as ‘legal highs’. Therefore, a rapid multi-analyte qualitative screening method, using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), was investigated for analysis of new designer drugs that have emerged from the former legal highs market.

Eight analytes were targeted as model compounds: 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (bk-MDMA, ‘methylone’), 2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one (bk-MBDB, ‘butylone’), 4-methoxymethcathinone (bk-PMMA, ‘methedrone’), 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP), 1-(3-trifluoromethyl phenyl)-piperazine (TFMPP), 1-(3-chloro phenyl)-piperazine (mCPP), and 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV).

The LC-MS/MS method developed encompassed direct analysis following a 1:4 dilution of urine with mobile phase to reduce matrix effects. Although not all compounds were completely resolved chromatographically, two product ions conferred sufficient specificity to allow target analyte identification. Although all target analytes were readily detected at 500 ng/ml, a cut-off of 1000 ng/ml was chosen to mirror the amphetamine screening cut-off commonly used for routine analysis of workplace drug testing samples.

In conclusion, direct analysis using LC-MS/MS offers an attractive way forward for the development of a rapid routine screen for new psychoactive substances, particularly given the growing number of novel compounds. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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