Aqueous phase hexylchloroformate derivatization and solid phase microextraction: determination of benzoylecgonine in urine by gas chromatography-quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry.

A derivatization/solid phase microextraction (SPME) method for the determination of benzoylecgonine in urine was developed. The derivatization is conducted directly in 1 mL of urine while sonicating for 3 min with 12 microL of hexyl chloroformate and 70 microL of a mixture containing acetonitrile:water:hexanol:2-dimethylaminopyridine (5:2:2:1 v/v), yielding benzoylecgonine hexyl ester (BHE) as the product. After the 3 min period, an aliquot of 250 microL is transferred to a vial for SPME. After the desired extraction time the 100 microns polydimethylsiloxane SPME fiber was transferred to the GC-MS for separation and analysis with a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The hexyl chloroformate derivatization and SPME procedures were optimized for compatibility and sensitivity. The method was found linear for 0.10 to 20.0 micrograms/mL (r2 = 0.999) of benzoylecgonine in urine using benzoylecgonine-d3 as an internal standard (1.5 micrograms/mL). Intra-day precisions were 8.8 and 6.8% RSD for 0.30 microgram/mL and 17 micrograms/mL benzoylecgonine standards in urine (n = 6), respectively. Inter-day precision (n = 3) were < or = 3.3% RSD, indicating good reproducibility. A detection limit of 0.03 microgram/mL (S/N = 3) was achieved, thus making the SPME method a simplified alternative to SPE for GC-MS confirmation after EMIT tests for benzoylecgonine which have a cutoff of 0.30 microgram/mL. Quantitative results by SPME and SPE of two clinical urine specimens known positive for cocaine by EMIT were in excellent agreement. Benzoylecgonine was detected by the derivatization/SPME method in 22 out of 22 other urine specimens known positive for cocaine.     

Detection of cocaine and its metabolites in breast milk

A method was developed for measuring cocaine and its metabolites, benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester, norcocaine, ecgonine ethyl ester, cocaethylene, and m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine, in breast milk by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Limits of detection for this method ranged from 2.5 to 10 ng/mL, and limits of quantitation ranged from 5 to 50 ng/mL. For each of the compounds measured by this method, linear response was demonstrated to 750 ng/mL. Breast milk was collected from 11 mothers who admitted to drug use during pregnancy and ten drug-free volunteers serving as control subjects. Cocaine was detected in six of the specimens obtained from drug-exposed subjects, and in none of the drug-free control subjects. In breast milk specimens where cocaine and one or more of its metabolites were detected, the concentration of parent compound was greater than any of the metabolites. The highest cocaine concentration found was over 12 microg/mL. Breast-fed infants of cocaine abusing mothers may be exposed to significant amounts of drug orally.     

Hair and urine analysis: relative distribution of drugs and their metabolites

This work studies the distribution of cocaine and heroin metabolites in hair and urine of living polidrug abusers. Cocaine, benzoylecgonine (BEG), ecgonine methyl ester (EME), morphine, codeine and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) were simultaneously extracted and analyzed by GC/MS in SIM mode. The results obtained show a different distribution of heroin and cocaine metabolites in urine and hair. In urine, we generally find BEG and EME for cocaine abuse, and morphine for heroin abuse. In hair, we detect cocaine and MAM as major metabolites for cocaine and heroin abuse, respectively.     

LC-MS／MS测定尿液中可卡因及其代谢物苯甲酰爱康宁

目的建立尿液中可卡因(cocaine,COC)及其代谢物苯甲酰爱康宁(benzoylecgonine,BZE)的液相色谱-串联质谱分析方法。方法尿液经固相萃取后,用AllurePFP丙基柱分离,以V(甲醇):V(20mmol/L乙酸胺和0.1%甲酸的缓冲溶液)=80∶20为流动相,采用二级质谱多反应监测模式检测COC和BZE。按10mg/kg的剂量对豚鼠腹腔注射可卡因,给药后收集7d尿液。结果尿液中COC和BZE在2.0～100ng/mL质量浓度范围内线性关系良好(r=0.9995),最低检测限(LOD)为0.5ng/mL;回收率大于90%;日内和日间精密度均小于6%;豚鼠尿液中主要检测目标物是BZE,且BZE检测时限也较COC长。结论所建方法灵敏度高,选择性好,适用于尿液中可卡因和苯甲酰爱康宁的检测。     

尿中氯胺酮及其代谢物检测的研究

目的建立氯胺酮滥用者尿中氯胺酮及其代谢物检测方法。方法尿液用有机溶剂液-液萃取,气相色谱/氮磷检测器、电子捕获检测器、氢火焰检测器和气-质联用仪测定。结果确认了尿液中氯胺酮的主要代谢物,尿液中氯胺酮及去甲氯胺酮的最小检测限均为2ng/mL,脱氢去甲氯胺酮的最小检测限为5ng/mL。结论所建方法快速、灵敏、准确,能够满足氯胺酮滥用者尿液检测的需要。     

LC-MS/MS同时分析尿液中15种安眠镇静药物及其代谢物

目的建立尿液中15种常见安眠镇静药物及代谢物的液相色谱-串联质谱分析方法。方法尿液经酶水解、固相萃取后,用C18液相柱分离,以含甲酸铵和甲酸的水、乙腈为流动相梯度洗脱,质谱采用电喷雾电离（ESI）-正负离子模式同时扫描,采用二级质谱多反应监测（MRM）模式检测目标化合物。结果以化合物的保留时间、两对母离子/子离子对定性,尿中常见安眠镇静药物的检测限为0.01～0.5ng/mL（ESI＋）和10ng/mL（ESI-）;相关系数r在0.994以上;日内及日间精密度均在18%以下;绝对回收率在64.80%～116.20%之间。结论方法快速、灵敏、简便、可靠,能同时分析尿液中的15种安眠镇静药物及其代谢物。     

Simultaneous analyses of cocaine, cocaethylene, and their possible metabolic and pyrolytic products

A method was developed for simultaneously analyzing cocaine (COC), benzoylecgonine (BZE), norbenzoylecgonine (BNE), norcocaine (NCOC), ecgonine (ECG), ecgonine methyl ester (EME), m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine (HBZE), anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), cocaethylene (CE), norcocaethylene (NCE), and ecgonine ethyl ester (EEE) in blood, urine, and muscle. Available deuterated analogs of these analytes were used as internal standards. Proteins from blood and muscle homogenate were precipitated with cold acetonitrile. After the removal of acetonitrile by evaporation, the supernatants and urine were subjected to solid-phase extraction. The eluted analytes were converted to their hydrochloride salts and derivatized with pentafluoropropionic anhydride and 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propanol. The derivatized products were analyzed by a gas chromatograph (GC)/mass spectrometer by selected ion monitoring. The limit of detection (LOD) for COC, BZE, NCOC, EME, CE, NCE, and EEE was 2ng/ml, while the LODs for BNE, ECG, HBZE, and AEME were 25, 640, 50, and 13 ng/ml, respectively. This method was successfully applied in analyzing 13 case samples from aviation accident pilot fatalities and motor vehicle operators. AEME concentrations found in the 13 samples were consistent with those produced solely by the GC inlet pyrolysis of COC controls in blood. Anhydroecgonine cannot be used as a marker for the abuse of COC by smoking because it is also pyrolytically produced from COC metabolites on the GC inlet. The developed method can be effectively adopted for analyzing COC and related compounds in urine, blood, and muscle by a single extraction with increased sensitivity through formation of hydrochloride salts and using a one-step derivatization.     

固相萃取／LC-MS／MS测定尿液中吗啡类药物

目的 建立尿液中吗啡类药物的固相萃取／LC—MS／MS方法。方法采用OASIS MCX3cc（60mg）固相萃取柱进行提取,应用LC—MS／MS方法进行检测,运用保留时间和MRM方式对尿液中吗啡类药物及其代谢物进行定性定量分析。结果磷酸盐缓冲液pH4．0时,海洛因、6-MAM、可待因、吗啡、M3G的固相萃取回收率分别达64．33％-70．21％,96．95％～117．57％,83．60％～123．63％,68．82％～91．03％,94．64％～107．33％;最低检测限（LOD）分别为5、10、5、5、2pg,线性范围0．005～10μg／mL;相关系数分别为0．9998、0．9958、0．9992、0．9994、0．9997。结论本文所建方法,适用于尿液中吗啡类药物的分析。     

气相色谱质谱联用法检测大鼠尿液中2C-B及其代谢物

目的研究4-溴-2,5-二甲氧基苯乙胺（2C—B）在大鼠体内的代谢物以及代谢途径。方法取Wistar大鼠3只,以2C-B灌胃,收集24h内尿液,用B葡萄糖醛酸酶水解,Oasis HLB柱固相提取,DB-35MS柱分析,气相色谱质谱联用检测。结果从大鼠尿液中检出6种2C-B的代谢产物,分别为：4-溴-2-羟基-5-甲氧基苯乙醇、4-溴-2,5-二甲氧基苯乙醇、4-溴-2-羟基-5-甲氧基苯乙酸、4-溴-2,5-二甲氧基苯乙酸、1-乙酰氨基-2-（4-溴-5-羟基-2-甲氧基苯）乙烷和1-乙酰氨基-2-（4-溴-2-羟基-5-甲氧基苯）乙烷。未检出2C—B原药。结论2C-B在大鼠尿液中主要以代谢物形式存在,其在大鼠体内至少仔在两种代谢途径：第一种是2C—B的2位和5位氧上去甲基后氨基被乙酰化;第二种是2C—B去氨基生成醛,接着被还原或氧化生成醇和羧酸。     

Deaths after intravenous misuse of transdermal fentanyl

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid used as a general anesthetic and analgetic. Fatal outcome from intravenous misuse of transdermal fentanyl is rare, and there are few such reports in literature. Here we report two cases of fatal intravenous injection of the content from fentanyl patches. Both were male drug addicts, found dead within a one week interval in the same apartment. Post-mortem femoral blood was screened for amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, and opioids with immunological methods (EMIT II) and further with headspace gas chromatography for alcohol and with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for different drugs, including fentanyl. Confirmatory analysis of fentanyl and morphine was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the first case, the toxicological analysis revealed fentanyl (2.7 ng/mL), morphine (31.4 ng/mL), and ethanol (1.1 g/L) in postmortem blood and amphetamine, cannabinoids, morphine, and ethanol (1.4 g/L) in postmortem urine. In the second case, the analysis revealed fentanyl (13.8 ng/mL), 7-aminoclonazepam (57.1 ng/mL), and sertralin (91.9 ng/mL) in postmortem blood and a small amount of ethanol (0.1 g/L) in postmortem urine. Police investigation revealed that both the deceased had bought the patches from the same source. The present cases demonstrate the possibility of intravenous misuse of transdermal patches and the risk of fatal outcome.     

Validity testing of commercial urine cocaine metabolite assays: III. Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of cocaine and cocaine metabolite

A validity assessment study was performed on the Genetic Diagnostic Enzyme Immunoassay test kit, a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (GDC ELISA) for detection of cocaine and cocaine metabolite in urine. A set of 290 urine specimens, comprised of clinical cocaine urines collected from 5 male subjects who had received single doses of intravenous cocaine, drug-free urines spiked with cocaine, cocaine metabolites, cocaine isomers, and other drugs of abuse, were assayed by GDC ELISA. The results were compared with results by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) assay for benzoylecgonine. Concordance was high between the GDC ELISA assay and GC/MS and with results reported earlier for other commercial assays. Detection times and specificity of the GDC ELISA antibody were most similar to those of the Abuscreen radioimmunoassay for cocaine metabolite. Overall, the assay produced no false negative or false positive results and appeared to be a reliable screening test for detection of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in human urine.     

Application of discriminant analysis to differentiate between incorporation of cocaine and its congeners into hair and contamination

The requirement to differentiate between incorporation and external contamination of drugs into hair is undisputed, in particular when dealing with compounds which are administered by sniffing or inhalation (e.g. cocaine). With the aim of making this discrimination, hair samples from cocaine (COC) users (group IN) and seized cocaine samples (group OUT) were compared regarding the parameters benzoylecgonine (BZE), ecgonine methyl ester (EME), ecgonine (ECG), anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), cocaethylene (CE) and norcocaine (NCOC). Since most of these compounds may be minor by-products of COC or be formed by biotransformation or chemical degradation, the stability of each substance was carefully examined. COC was found to be converted into significant amounts of BZE, EME and ECG even under mild extraction conditions, while traces of NCOC proved to be a ubiquitous by-product of COC. Cocaine positive hairs and seized cocaine samples (diluted to relevant concentrations) were equally preprocessed and analyzed by LC-MS-MS. Out of the metabolites listed above, NCOC, CE and AEME (each normalised to COC) were significantly increased in the incorporation group (i.e. hair samples from cocaine users). Based on this approach, a statistical discriminant analysis enabled us to make a prediction (and estimation of uncertainty) for each cocaine positive hair sample as to its likelihood of belonging to the group of cocaine users or of being contaminated.     

Utilizing the urinary 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio to determine ethanol origin in civil aviation accident victims

Specimens from fatal aviation accident victims are submitted to the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute for toxicological analysis. During toxicological evaluations, ethanol analysis is performed on all cases. Care must be taken when interpreting a positive ethanol result due to the potential for postmortem ethanol formation. Several indicators of postmortem ethanol formation exist; however, none are completely reliable. The consumption of ethanol has been shown to alter the concentration of two major serotonin metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA). While the 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio is normally very low, previous studies using living subjects have demonstrated that the urinary 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio is significantly elevated for 11-19 h after acute ethanol ingestion. Recently, our laboratory developed and validated an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of both 5-HTOL and 5-HIAA in forensic urine samples using a simple liquid/liquid extraction and LC/MS/MS and LC/MS/MS/MS. In this previous work a 15 pmol/nmol serotonin metabolite ratio cutoff was established in postmortem urine, below which it could be conclusively determined that no recent antemortem ethanol consumption had occurred. In the current study this newly validated analytical method was applied to five ethanol-positive aviation fatalities where the origin of the ethanol present could not previously be conclusively determined. In four of the five cases examined the detected ethanol was demonstrated to be present due to postmortem microbial formation, and not consumption, even though some indication of ethanol consumption may have been present.     

Case report: Etizolam and its major metabolites in two unnatural death cases

A simultaneous analytical method for etizolam and its main metabolites (alpha-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam) in whole blood was developed using solid-phase extraction, TMS derivatization and ion trap gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Separation of etizolam, TMS derivatives of alpha-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam and fludiazepam as internal standard was performed within about 17 min. The inter-day precision evaluated at the concentration of 50 ng/mL etizolam, alpha-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam was evaluated 8.6, 6.4 and 8.0% respectively. Linearity occurred over the range in 5-50 ng/mL. This method is satisfactory for clinical and forensic purposes. This method was applied to two unnatural death cases suspected to involve etizolam. Etizolam and its two metabolites were detected in these cases.     

Time of drug elimination in chronic drug abusers. Case study of 52 patients in a "low-step" detoxification ward

The elimination time of illicit drugs and their metabolites is of both clinical and forensic interest. In order to determine the elimination time for various drugs and their metabolites we recruited 52 volunteers in a protected, low-step detoxification program. Blood samples were taken from each volunteer for the first 7 days, daily, urine sample for the first 3 weeks, daily. Urine was analyzed using a fluorescence-polarization immunoassay (FPIA) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), serum using GC/MS. The elimination times of the drugs and/or their metabolites in urine and serum as well as the tolerance intervals/confidence intervals were determined. Due to the sometimes extremely high initial concentrations and low cut-off values, a few of the volunteers had markedly longer elimination times than those described in the literature. The cut-off values were as follows: barbiturates II (200ng/ml), cannabinoids (20ng/ml), cocaine metabolites (300ng/ml), opiates (200ng/ml). GC/MS detected the following maximum elimination times: total morphine in urine up to 270.3h, total morphine and free morphine in serum up to 121.3h, monoacetylmorphine in urine up to 34.5h, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in urine up to 433.5h, THC-COOH in serum up to 74.3h, total codeine in urine up to 123h, free codeine in urine up to 97.5h, total codeine in serum up to 29h, free codeine in serum up to 6.3h, total dihydrocodeine (DHC) in urine up to 314.8h, free DHC in urine up to 273.3h, total and free DHC in serum up to 50.1h. Cocaine and its metabolites were largely undetectable in the present study.     

超分子溶剂萃取-气相色谱-串联质谱法检测尿液中苯二氮䓬类药物

目的建立一种尿液中9种苯二氮?类药物的超分子溶剂样品气相色谱-串联质谱(gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry,GC-MS/MS)分析方法。方法含9种苯二氮?类药物对照品的尿液样品用四氢呋喃和1-己醇组成的超分子溶剂进行液液萃取,取溶剂层氮吹至干,残余物用甲醇复溶后进行GC-MS/MS分析,数据采集方式为多反应监测模式,采用内标法定量。结果尿液中地西泮、咪达唑仑、氟硝西泮和氯氮平质量浓度在1~100ng/mL,劳拉西泮和阿普唑仑质量浓度在5~100ng/mL,硝西泮和氯硝西泮质量浓度在2~100ng/mL,艾司唑仑在质量浓度0.2~100ng/mL范围内具有良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9991~0.9999,定量下限为0.2~5ng/mL,提取回收率为81.12%~99.52%,日内精密度[相对标准偏差(relative standard deviation,RSD)]和准确度(偏倚)分别小于9.86%、9.51%;日间精密度(RSD)和准确度(偏倚)分别小于8.74%、9.98%。室温和-20℃条件下,尿液中9种药物在15d内具有良好的稳定性。8名志愿者单摄口服阿普唑仑片后,在8~72h内尿液中阿普唑仑的质量浓度为6.54~88.28ng/mL。结论本研究建立的尿液中9种苯二氮?类药物的超分子溶剂萃取-GC-MS/MS分析方法,简便、快速、准确、灵敏,可为临床治疗及司法鉴定中苯二氮?类药物中毒监测提供技术支持。     

尿中氯胺酮及其代谢物盘鉴和GC/MS/SIM测定

目的 研究尿中氯胺酮(KET)及其代谢物去甲基氯胺酮(NKET)的盘鉴(Disk SPE)。方法 用含有化学键合C18和强酸型强阳离子交换(SCX)基团的萃取柱SPEC.C18 AR/MP3萃取,加入萃取柱前的尿样用0.1mol/L磷酸盐缓冲溶液(pH 6)稀释,洗脱溶剂为含2％(v/v)氨水的乙酸乙酯;以2,4,6-三硝基甲苯(TNT)为色谱内标,GC/MS/SIM检测。结果 在加标量为0.5μg/mL、2μg/mL和6μg/mL的控制尿样中,KET和NKET的平均回收率分别为91.5％和79.9％,6次测定的RSD均为8.7％;线性范围0.02-8μg/mL,线性相关系数分别为0.9819和0.9964;检出限(S/N=3)分别为6ng/mL和4ng/mL;总离子色谱图背景低,杂质少。同一根萃取柱重复使用8次以上未见性能下降;嫌疑尿样中检出KET和/或NKET,和常规的液液萃取结果相符。结论 该方法适用于尿中KET和NKET的同时测定。     

Tropane ethyl esters in illicit cocaine: isolation, detection, and determination of new manufacturing by-products from the clandestine purification of crude cocaine base with ethanol

Seven ethyl homologues of known tropane esters have recently been detected as impurities in the gas chromatographic signature profiles of authentic Peruvian illicit cocaine base and hydrochloride exhibits. Peruvian cocaine base processors are now known to use ethanol for the purification of crude cocaine base. This process is referred to as the "base lavada" or "washed base" process and is a recent substitute method for the potassium permanganate oxidation purification methodology. Seven ethyl ester homologues were formed in illicit cocaine from the transesterification of known tropane methyl esters or possibly ethyl esterification of their respective tropane C-2 carboxylic acids in the presence of ethanol. Exhibits containing these compounds were subjected to gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses to determine their identity and were subsequently synthesized to verify their structures. Quantitative determinations were obtained from ion-pair chromatography isolation followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Specifically, hexanoylecgonine ethyl ester, cocaethylene, cis-cinnamoylecgonine ethyl ester, trans-cinnamoylecgonine ethyl ester, 3',4',5'-trimethoxybenzoylecgonine ethyl ester, cis-3',4',5'-trimethoxycinnamoylecgonine ethyl ester, and trans-3',4',5'-trimethoxycinnamoylecgonine ethyl ester were detected and characterized. When present, these compounds were detected at levels ranging from 8.6 x 10(-4) to 9.3 x 10(-1)% relative to cocaine.     

SPE-HPLC/MS/MS检验体液中赛拉嗪及DMA

目的建立了一种高效液相色谱串联三重四极杆质谱同时测定体液中赛拉嗪及2,6-二甲基苯胺的分析方法。方法样品经HLB固相萃取柱提取净化,Waters Atlantis d C18色谱柱分离,正电离条件下进行选择监视扫描模式检测。结果方法的回收率为70.5%~79.8%,RSD为8.2%~10.5%。赛拉嗪及2,6-二甲基苯胺在血液和尿液中的检出限分别为0.4 ng/mL和0.3 ng/mL,定量限分别为1.2 ng/mL和1.0 ng/mL。结论本方法灵敏度高、特异性好、重现性好,适用于赛拉嗪中毒的血液和尿液检测。     

The GC/MS analysis of some commonly used non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in pharmaceutical dosage forms and in urine

All the commonly used non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), except mefenamic acid, when extracted from the pharmaceutical dosage forms or the urines of users, and derivatized by silylation and then analysed by GC/MS, gave the mono- or the di-trimethylsilyl derivatives (depending on the number of derivatized groups in the drug) as the sole products. Mefenamic acid gave a mixture of products. When extracted from pharmaceutical dosage froms or from the urines of users, and analysed by GC/MS without derivatization, some of the NSAIDs were separated and detected as the unchanged molecules as the sole products, while others were separated and detected in altered forms as sole products or mixtures, depending on: (a) the solvent in which the extract was dissolved for injection into GC/MS, (b) the chemical structure of the drug, and (c) specifically for diflunisal, the presence or absence of potential methylating and/or acetylating agents on the GC column and/or septum. The main thermally-induced reactions of the underivatized NSAIDs included (i) methyl ester formation at the COOH group when the extract was dissolved in methanol, (ii) decarboxylation (i.e., loss of CO2), (iii) dehydration (i.e., loss of H2O) when the chemical structure permitted, such as for diclofenac, and (iv) cleavage at a carbon-heterocyclic nitrogen bond when one is present in an NSAID. Heating the urine in approximately 2 M HCl at 100 degrees C for 30 min, has been found to be a satisfactory means for effecting hydrolysis of the NSAIDs glucuronide conjugates. No metabolites, resulting from aromatic-ring hydroxylation, have been detected in urine for any of the NSAIDs studied.