Paper Spray and Extraction Spray Mass Spectrometry for the Direct and Simultaneous Quantification of Eight Drugs of Abuse in Whole Blood

TLDR

Determination of eight drugs of abuse in blood can be performed using paper spray or extraction spray mass spectrometry in under 2 minutes with minimal sample preparation. The optimized method quantifies amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA, MDEA, morphine, cocaine, and THC from a single blood spot using paper spray or extraction spray, each requiring less than 10 µL of whole blood. The method achieves 1–5 % relative standard deviation between samples, limits of detection below typical physiological and toxicological levels, and demonstrates potential for rapid, high‑throughput, on‑site multicompound quantitative screening of illicit drugs.

Abstract

Determination of eight drugs of abuse in blood has been performed using paper spray or extraction spray mass spectrometry in under 2 min with minimal sample preparation. A method has been optimized for quantification of amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (MDEA), morphine, cocaine, and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from a single blood spot. Sample to sample variations of 1–5% relative standard deviation were achieved using stable isotope-labeled internal standards and tandem mass spectrometry. Limits of detection for all drugs were below typical physiological and toxicological levels. Paper spray and extraction spray each used less than 10 μL of whole blood. These methods exhibit the potential for performing rapid and high-throughput assays for selective on-site multicompound quantitative screening of illicit drugs.