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Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F-ABFT Chief Forensic Toxicologist Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Tampa, FL

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Page 1: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology

Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F-ABFT

Chief Forensic Toxicologist

Hillsborough County Medical Examiner

Tampa, FL

Page 2: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Forensic TOXICOLOGY

The Study of Poisons for Forensic Toxicology

The study of the effects of chemical substances on living systems

Forensic test results are subject to challenge in our adversarial justice system

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 3: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy

Paracelsus (1493-1541) Poisons and medicines are often times the same

substance given with different intents. Peter Mere Latham (1789-1875)

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 4: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Volatiles Gases Acid/neutral/basic compounds Hydrocarbons Halogens Polar and non-polar Lipophilic and hydrophilic Conjugates or glucuronides Small and large molecules Thermally stable and labile Heavy metals Extremely potent drugs (ng/mL or pg/mL range) There is not a single analytical instrument that can analyze for all these various analytes

Types of Substances Analyzed in Forensic Toxicology

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 5: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Forensic Toxicology Analysis Screen

An initial test to distinguish negatives from presumptive positives

Immunoassay, color tests, GCMS, LC-MS/MS, LC-TOF

Confirmation A second test used to definitively identify a drug or chemical

Usually mass spectral based techniques

Quantitation A test used to identify the amount of drug present in the specimen

Immunoassay, chromatographic or mass spectral based techniques

General Rule in Forensic Analysis The detection of drugs should be confirmed (whenever possible) by a second

analysis preferably based on a different analytical principle.

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 6: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Analytical Method Validation Parameters

Accuracy (bias) Precision Limit of detection Limit of quantitation Interference studies Calibration model Carryover Ionization suppression/enhancement (LC techniques) Dilution integrity Stability

Page 7: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Data from United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime Early Warning Advisory on New Psychoactive Substances (Jan 2015)

Page 8: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Analytical Challenges Associated with Novel Psychoactive Substances Is a standard available? Cost of the analytical standard? Mass spectral library? Published analytical methods? Published case studies to help interpret results? Staffing resources available to analytical forensic method

development and validation (estimated 3-6 months)? Is it cost effective to develop forensic method or send to a private

reference laboratory?

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 9: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Immunoassays

Inexpensive, rapid tests to screen for specific drugs or drug classes Can be very sensitive (especially kits developed for blood and oral fluid) Requires a known standard and antibody to develop an immunoassay

(make take several months to years to develop a new immunoassay to a new psychoactive substance)

Manufactured commercially

Some new designer drugs cross-react with immunoassays for other similar classes of drugs Cathinones may cross-react with methamphetamine immunoassay

Fentanyl may cross-react with fentanyl immunoasssay

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 10: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Some Designer Stimulants

Cathinones Tryptamines Benzofurans Methylone 5-MeO-DALT 5 APDB Mephedrone 5-MeO-DIPT 6 APDB Methedrone 5-MeO-DMT 5 APB MDPV DMT 6 APB Butylone Ethylone Pentylone

Page 11: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Fentanyl, Acetyl Fentanyl and Butyryl Fentanyl

Fentanyl

Butyryl Fentanyl

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 12: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Full Scan Electron Impact (EI) Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)

Page 13: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

EI full scan GCMS

Used extensively for decades in analytical forensic toxicology laboratories, ‘gold standard’

All analytes eluting from column are hit with a beam of electrons at 70 eV so fragmentation pattern is identical on all instruments

Several hundred thousands of chemicals are published in searchable full scan GCMS libraries (NIST, SWGDRUG, AAFS, Maurer Wiley and websites)

Libraries must be periodically upgraded to include new compounds Analysis performed is gas phase so analytes amenable to GCMS analysis are

typically small, volatile, thermally stable and non-polar To maximize sensitivity, targeted analysis can be conducted using selected ion

monitoring (SIM) mode Straightforward, simple operation (or more so than LC-MS/MS or TOF) Sensitivity µg/mL to ng/mL range Cost ~ $50,000 to $150,000

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 14: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 15: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 16: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 17: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 18: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 19: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 20: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 21: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 22: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 23: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 24: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 25: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

CASE STUDIES IN WHICH GCMS ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED THE NPS

LSD Methylone and 5-APDB 25I-NBOMe Fentanyl analogs

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 26: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

LSD Poisoning Case • A family of four (including a mother in her ninth month of pregnancy)

became ill after consuming a home cooked meal of steak fajitas.

• Initial symptoms included tingling in arms and legs, nausea, dizziness, tachycardia, dilated pupils and hallucinations.

• The family drove to a nearby hospital where they were admitted. • All victims (including the newborn infant) recovered spontaneously with 24

hours after admission and were released within a few days.

• Hospital urine drug test results were negative.

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 27: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

LSD Poisoning Case

All four victims’ hospital blood and urine samples were analyzed for 12 classes of drugs of abuse by immunoassay Acetaminophen, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, carisoprodol/meprobamate,

cocaine metabolite (benzoylecgonine), cannabinoids, fentanyl, methadone, methamphetamine, opiates, oxycodone and salicylates.

All results were negative.

All four victims’ hospital blood and urine samples were analyzed by full scan electron impact GCMS. All results were negative.

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 28: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

The suspected ‘tainted’ meat package

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 29: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 30: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

LSD Poisoning Case

• LSD was identified on the ingested steak fajita meat by GCMS analysis.

• Targeted analysis for LSD in urine by LC-MS/MS confirmed the presence of LSD in three of the victims’ samples (the fourth victim’s urine sample had insufficient volume for LSD analysis).

• Once the LSD was identified on the steak fajita meat, the case was taken over by the FDA for specialized testing.

• FDA has confirmed the presence of LSD on the steak fajita meat and the case is the source of the LSD was never determined.

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 31: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Methylone Case 1 23 year old male Walking in and out of traffic at major intersection,

banging on cars with fists, screaming profanities, yelling rap songs

Refuse to cooperate with police, combative, resisted arrest, police used taser (missed) and tackled him to ground

Transported to ER Body temperature 105.9° F Seizures Cardiac arrest Rhabdomyolysis Multiple organ failure Died 24 hrs after admission

Post Mortem Samples were tested

Page 32: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Methylone Case 2

19 yr old female at club in Kansas City Witnessed to take a pill called “Molly” Collapsed with seizures Taken to ER

Body temperature 103.9° F Asystole Despite resuscitation efforts pronounced dead 8

minutes after admission Post Mortem Samples were tested

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 33: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Methylone Case 3

23 yr old male after after-hours club Witnessed to take “LSD” Acting irrational, sweating, bad trip, freaking out Management facilitated his removal by “saran

wrapping” him to chair and place him in chair into the back of his friend’s van

4 hours later another friend found him in the van Transported to ER

Body temperature 107° F Heart rate 132 Acidotic Pronounced dead 45 minutes after admission

Post Mortem Samples were tested

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 34: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Methylone Analysis In all three cases, immunoassay was positive for methamphetamines

yet no amphetamines or methamphetamines were detected.

GCMS identified an early eluting unidentified peak that was determined to be methylone

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 35: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Designer Drug Cases

2

1

10

2

0 0 0 0

4

6

1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Designer Drug Cases

Methylone Ethylone Alpha-PVP

Page 36: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 37: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 38: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Synthetic LSD

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 39: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Case Report 25I-NBOMe 20 yr old male Usually the “trip sitter” for friends while they did “LSD” On date of incident, deceased decided to use “LSD” Went crazy, freaking out, running through woods Several hours later someone reported hearing “Oh shit” and

thud Deceased found lying on pavement surrounding swimming

pool. It is believed he fell from 7th floor balcony. Drug screen (including LSD) were negative. 25I-NBOMe not detected using standard toxicology

procedures 25I-NBOME was identified on “LSD” blotter paper by GCMS Targeted analysis by LC-MS/MS confirmed 25I-NBOMe in

biological specimens

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 40: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 41: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Fentanyl GCMS Full Scan EI

14_07590_URINE #4764 RT: 15.26 AV: 1 SB: 2 15.17 , 15.32 NL: 2.28E7T: {0,0} + c EI Full ms [43.00-550.00]

50 100 150 200 250 300 350m/z

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Relativ

e Abun

dance

146.1

245.2

189.2

105.1

44.157.0

96.177.1246.2202.1132.1 158.191.1

118.170.1

159.1 203.1 247.2 282.0244.1 331.0316.1 340.1298.0

Fentanyl

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 42: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Acetyl Fentanyl GCMS Full Scan EI 14_07590_URINE #4588 RT: 14.96 AV: 1 SB: 243 14.62-14.89 , 15.02-15.16 NL: 2.03E7T: {0,0} + c EI Full ms [43.00-550.00]

50 100 150 200 250 300 350m/z

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Relati

ve Ab

undanc

e

231.2

146.1

188.1

44.1

105.1158.1

77.1 189.296.1

118.191.1 232.2132.1

79.170.1

69.1 159.1 207.1233.2 343.0315.0282.1172.2 208.1 295.1266.1

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 43: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Butyryl Fentanyl GCMS Full Scan EI 15-06440_D #4691-4720 RT: 14.63-14.69 AV: 30 SB: 1227 13.47-14.49 , 14.87-15.98 NL: 7.44E4T: {0,0} + c EI Full ms [43.00-550.00]

60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340m/z

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Relat

ive Ab

unda

nce

146.244.1

105.1

77.1

55.1189.2

71.1 259.391.1

98.2132.2118.1

82.1 153.4260.3190.1158.2 186.3 216.3144.3 172.2 236.3199.2 309.0246.4 270.6 323.1 354.2287.1 333.2

Butyryl Fentanyl

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 44: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Page 45: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

LC-MS/MS Becoming more popular since they are easier to use and more affordable

than before Extremely sensitive ng/ml to pg/mL range Can analyze larger, non-volatile, thermally labile and polar molecules

(unlike GCMS) Targeted analysis scanning for precursor ions and then fragmenting to

product ions (selected reaction monitoring (SRM) or multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)

Subject to ion suppress/enhancement from matrix components that can interfere with ionization during electrospray

Since the voltages on electrospray and collision energies vary depending on analytes, LC-MS/MS libraries are not transferable between instruments and must be established on each instrument

LC-MS/MS better suited for targeted analysis and not unknown screening Price range approximately <$200,000 to $300,000

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 46: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 47: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

LC-MS/MS Forensic Applications

Cocaine, Cocaethylene, benzoylecgonine quantitation Opiate quantitation Benzodiazepine quantitation Cannabinoid quantitation Targeted 25I-NBOMe analysis of biological specimens (pg/mL) Targeted LSD analysis in biological specimens (pg/mL) Targeted fentanyl analogue analysis in biological specimens

(pg/mL)

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 48: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

LC-MS/MS Forensic Analysis of blank blood versus 0.5 ng/mL fentanyl control

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 49: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) Liquid Chromatography Time of Flight (LC-TOF) or Quadrupole Time of Flight (Q-TOF) Liquid Chromatography Orbitrap MS or Quadrupole Exactive (Q Exactive) MS

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 50: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS)

GCMS and LC-MS/MS typically have mass resolution of approximately 1 amu (285 ± 1 amu)

HRMS has mass resolution of 0.0001 to 0.001 amu (1-10 ppm) or better

Can be used for general unknown screening to identify the structure of an unknown analyte

HRMS can distinguish between chemicals with similar masses Morphine (285.1365) and 7-aminoclonazepam (285.0669)

Usually used in tandem with a quadrupole and collision cell to get some fragmentation

Newer instruments, laboratories inexperienced with the technology, pretty complicated to use

Approximate cost >$200,000 - $300,000

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 51: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Schematic of LC Q Exactive (Focus)MS

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 52: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Schematic of LC-QTOF

Page 53: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS)

HRMS cannot distinguish between isobaric compounds Morphine (285.1365) and hydromorphone (285.1365) Cocaine (303.1470) and scopolamine (303.1470) Hydrocodone (299.1521) and codeine (299.1521) Phentermine (149.1204) and methamphetamine (149.1204) JWH-019 (355.1939) and JWH-122 (355.1939) JWH-016 (341.1779) and JWH-018 (341.1779) Butylone (221.1051) and Ethylone (221.1051) Amitriptyline (277.1830) and EDDP (277.1830)

For isobaric compounds must use retention time and fragmentation or other mass spectral technique for definitive identification

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 54: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief
Page 55: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Comparison of GCMS, LC-MS/MS and LC-HRMS GCMS LC-MS/MS LC-HRMS

Screening Full scan Targeted Full scan Analytes Small, volatile,

thermally stable, non-polar

Small or large, non-volatile, thermally unstable and polar

Small or large, non-volatile, thermally unstable and polar

Resolution 1 amu 1 amu 0.001-0.0001 amu Libraries Large,

transferable Smaller, non-transferable

Smaller, non-transferable

Analyte identification

EI full scan spectra and retention time

MS/MS fragmentation and retention time

Exact mass, isotope pattern, fragmentation and retention time

Cost $ $$ $$-$$$

For forensic toxicology use only.

Page 56: Novel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and choices · PDF fileNovel Psychoactive Substances: Challenges and Choices in Forensic Toxicology . Julia M. Pearson, PhD, F -ABFT . Chief

Designer Drugs

They are the wave of the future They are here to stay They will continue to be a legal and forensic

laboratory nightmare Synthetic drug chemists will always have an

advantage over legislation and labs Economics 101: Supply and Demand