Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) and a portable mass spectrometer for rapid identification of common and designer drugs on-site

Abstract

Identification and differentiation of the consistently evolving designer drugs being encountered by law enforcement is challenging established techniques in drug analysis. We report the coupling of Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) with a portable ion trap mass spectrometer to yield an instrument that can be used for identification of drugs in the field. Initial validation experiments were done in a laboratory setting using pure drug standards to generate an initial library of MS and MS/MS spectra. Additionally, complex mixtures were tested to evaluate the use of MS/MS to eliminate matrix interferents from DART spectra which were obtained with minimal sample preparation or chromatography. Finally, the instrumentation and a small canister of compressed nitrogen gas was transported both to an evidence room and a crime laboratory for on-site analysis of actual drug samples. Numerous pieces of evidence including a suspected cannabis leaf and samples suspected to be “K2”, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, an oxycodone tablet, and an alprazolam tablet were directly analyzed, yielding accurate results in real-time. This instrumentation is a viable, commercially available option for rapid mass spectrometry of common and newer designer drugs in the field.