Rapid quantification of urinary oxycodone and oxymorphone using fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Human urine specimens that were determined to be presumptively positive for oxycodone and its metabolite, oxymorphone, by immunoassay screening were assayed using fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to positively identify and quantify the oxycodone and oxymorphone present. Urine specimens were first spiked with deuterated internal standards, oxycodone-d(3) and oxymorphone-d(3), subjected to acid hydrolysis, and then extracted using a positive-pressure manifold and mixed-bed solid-phase cartridge extraction methodology. Extracts were derivatized using methoxylamine and acetic anhydride. The acetylated-oxime derivatives of oxycodone and oxymorphone were identified and quantified using a selective ion monitoring (SIM). The method was found to be linear for both analytes to 1600 ng/mL, and limits of detection for oxycodone and oxymorphone were found to be 40 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL, respectively. Interlaboratory data comparisons (n = 40) showed correlation coefficients of 0.9999 and 0.9997 for oxycodone and oxymorphone, respectively. Twelve semisynthetic, structurally similar compounds at concentrations of 5000 ng/mL were assayed in the presence of oxycodone and oxymorphone and found not to interfere with identification and quantitation by this method. Finally, exact mass and tandem mass spectrometry techniques were employed to elucidate the structures of the SIM ions.

Rapid analysis of benzoylecgonine in urine by fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A novel fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (FGC-MS) analytical method for benzoylecgonine (BZE) has been developed to improve the efficiency of specimen analysis without diminishing the reliability of metabolite identification and quantification. Urine specimens were spiked with deuterated internal standard (BZE-d8), subjected to solid-phase extraction, and derivatized with pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA) and pentafluoropropanol (PFPOH). The pentafluoropropyl ester derivative of BZE was identified and quantified using both a standard GC-MS method and the newly developed FGC-MS method. Shorter GC analyte retention times were made possible in the FGC-MS method by employing a 220-volt GC oven controller, which allowed an increased temperature ramp rate. The FGC-MS method was linear between 25 and 10,000 ng/mL of BZE yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.9994. The intra-assay precision of a 100 ng/mL BZE standard (n=15) yielded an average concentration of 99.7 ng/mL and a coefficient of variation of 1.2%. The interassay precision of 21 sets of 50, 100, and 125 ng/mL BZE controls was found to be acceptable, with coefficients of variation less than 2.4%. No interference was observed when the FGC-MS method was challenged with cocaine, ecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester, and nine other drugs of abuse. Analysis of presumptively positive specimens (n=146) by both analytical methods yielded comparable results with a correlation coefficient of 0.996. The FGC-MS method, when compared with a standard GC-MS method, reduces total assay time by approximately 50% while demonstrating comparable reliability.

Prevalence of use study for amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP), 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), and 3,4-methylenedioxy-ethylamphetamine (MDEA) in military entrance processing stations (MEPS) specimens.

The Roche Abuscreen Onlinetrade mark Amphetamine immunoassay (IA), modified to include sodium periodate, and the Microgenics DRI Ecstasy IA were used to determine the prevalence of amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) in urine specimens from applicants seeking to join the United States Armed Forces. Over a 4-month period, a total of 85,658 specimens were IA screened using the Department of Defense 500 ng/mL administrative cutoff level for AMP and MDMA. All presumptively positive specimens were confirmed using a solid-phase extraction procedure coupled with simultaneous analysis of AMP, MAMP, MDA, MDMA, and MDEA by fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using the same cutoff levels as the IA. The Roche Online Amphetamine IA identified 216 specimens as presumptively positive; of these, 70 specimens confirmed positive for AMP and 87 specimens confirmed positive for AMP and/or MAMP, resulting in a confirmation rate of 73%. The Microgenics DRI Ecstasy IA identified eight specimens as presumptively positive; of these, five specimens confirmed positive for MDMA and/or MDA, resulting in a confirmation rate of 63%. The total use prevalence for AMP, MAMP, MDA, MDMA, and/or MDEA in military entrance processing stations specimens over the testing period was determined to be 0.19%.

Urine pH, container composition, and exposure time influence adsorptive loss of 11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid.

11-nor-delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (11-nor-delta9-THC-COOH) is the primary cannabinoid present in the urine of individuals who have used marijuana and is the target analyte identified at forensic urinalysis drug testing laboratories. The preparation, storage, transport, and processing of control materials for gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis of human urine specimens is critical to accurate compound identification and quantification. Previous studies have suggested that adsorptive loss of 11-nor-delta9-THC-COOH is influenced by container composition and storage temperature. In this study, urine solutions of 11-nor-delta9-THC-COOH (7.5, 15, 60, and 500 ng/mL) at three physiologically-relevant pHs (4.6, 6.5, and 8.4) were prepared and subjected to storage and processing in containers of different compositions (polypropylene and borosilicate glass). Analyte identification and quantification were achieved using tetramethylammonium hydroxide/iodomethane-based derivatization followed by GC separation and electron-impact MS. These analyses demonstrate that adsorptive loss of 11-nor-delta9-THC-COOH is a phenomenon found in acidic urine solutions and is relatively absent in urine solutions that are near-neutral or basic. Furthermore, the data indicate that the adsorptive loss of 11-nor-delta9-THC-COOH is dependent on solution-container exposure time and is similar between containers of two distinct compositions. These results suggest that for optimal analytical control performance, solution pH and control processing times are critical elements.

Rapid quantification of urinary 11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid using fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Human urine specimens that were determined to be presumptively positive for metabolites of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol by immunoassay screening were assayed using a novel fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (FGC-MS) analytical method to determine whether this method would improve the efficiency of specimen processing without diminishing the reliability of metabolite identification and quantification. Urine specimens were spiked with deuterated internal standard, subjected to solid-phase extraction, and derivatized using tetramethylammonium hydroxide and iodomethane. The methyl ester/methyl ether derivatives were identified and quantified using both a traditional GC-MS method and the newly developed FGC-MS method. The FGC-MS method was demonstrated to be linear between 3.8 and 1500 ng/mL 11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (11-nor-delta-THC-COOH). The intrarun precision of 15 replicates of a 15 ng/mL control and the interrun precision of 161 sets of 7, 15, and 60 ng/mL controls were acceptable (coefficients of variation < 5.5%). The FGC-MS method was demonstrated to be specific for identifying 11-nor-delta9-THC-COOH and none of 43 tested substances interfered with identification and quantification of 11-nor-delta9-THC-COOH. Excellent data concordance (R2 > 0.993) was found for two specimen sets assayed using both methods. The FGC-MS method, when compared with a traditional GC-MS method, reduces total assay time by approximately 40% with no decrease in data quality.

Rapid simultaneous determination of amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine in urine by fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The use of fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (FGC-MS) was investigated to improve the efficiency of analysis of urine specimens that previously screened presumptively positive for amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and/or 3,4 methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) by immunoassay testing. Specimens were pretreated with basic sodium periodate, extracted using a positive-pressure manifold/cation-exchange solid-phase cartridge methodology, and derivatized using 4-carbethoxyhexafluorobutyryl chloride (4-CB). The analytical method was compared to traditional GC-MS analysis and evaluated with respect to assay chromatography, linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and reproducibility. The limits of detection were 62.5 ng/mL for MDA and 31.25 ng/mL for AMP, MAMP, MDMA, and MDEA. All of the target analytes were linear to 12,000 ng/mL with the exception of MAMP which was linear to 10,000 ng/mL. The intra-assay precision of a 500 ng/mL multiconstituent control (n=15) ranged from 522.6 to 575.9 ng/mL with a coefficient of variation of less than 3.8%. Authentic human urine specimens (n=187) previously determined to contain the target analytes were re-extracted and analyzed by both FGC-MS and the currently utilized GC-MS method. No significant differences in specimen concentration were observed between these analytical methods. No interferences were seen when the performance of the FGC-MS method was challenged with ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, and phentermine. When compared to traditional GC-MS analysis, FGC-MS analysis provided a dramatic reduction in retention time for amphetamine (1.8 min vs. 4.12 min). For example, the FGC-MS method reduced overall run time for a batch of 56 specimens from 12.0 h to 7.25 h. This reduction in analysis time makes FGC-MS an attractive alternative to traditional GC-MS by allowing a laboratory greater flexibility in the purchase and use of capital equipment and in the assignment of laboratory personnel, all resulting in greater overall efficiency by decreasing reporting times for AMP, MAMP, and designer amphetamine positive specimens.