Abstract
The introduction of new psychoactive substances (NPS) on the illicit drug market has led to major challenges for the analytical laboratories. Keeping screening methods up to date with all relevant drugs is hard to achieve and the risk of missing important findings in biological samples is a matter of concern. Aiming for an extended retrospective data analysis, diagnostic fragment ions from synthetic cannabinoids (n=251), synthetic opioids (n=88) and designer benzodiazepines (n=26) not included in our original analytical method were obtained from the crowdsourced database HighResNPS.com and converted to a personalized library in a format compatible with the analytical instrumentation. Data files from the analysis of 1314 forensic post mortem samples with an Agilent 6540 ultra high pressure liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) performed in our laboratory from January 2014 to December 2018 were retrieved and retrospectively processed with the new personalized library. Potentially positive findings were grouped in two: The most confident findings contained MS/MS data for library match (category 1) whereas the less confident findings lacked such data (category 2). Five new category 1 findings were identified: Flubromazepam in two data files from 2015 and 2016, respectively, phenibut (4-amino-3-phenylbutyric acid) in one data file from 2015, fluorofentanyl in one data file from 2016 and cyclopropylfentanyl in one data file from 2018. Retention time matches with reference standards further strengthened these findings. A list of 35 presumably positive category 2 findings was generated. Of these, only one finding of phenibut was considered plausible after checking retention times and signal-to-noise ratios. This study shows that new compounds can be detected retrospectively in data files from QTOF-MS using an updated library containing diagnostic fragment ions. Automatic screening procedures can be useful, but a manual re-evaluation of positive findings will always be necessary.
Highlights
In recent years, there has been a continuously increasing number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) appearing on the European illicit drug market [1]
In particular the fentanyl analogues, have been of mounting concern because of their formidable toxic potential [3,4,5,6]. Designer benzodiazepines is another group in focus due to the high prevalence of use, at least in our country [7], compared to other groups of NPS
The aim of this study was to re-process data files of forensic post mortem samples acquired from January 2014 to December 2018 in a Personal Compound Database and Library (PCDL)-facilitated search for NPS belonging to the subgroups synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic opioids and designer benzodiazepines
Summary
There has been a continuously increasing number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) appearing on the European illicit drug market [1]. The diversity and high number of new compounds pose challenges for clinical and toxicological laboratories who strive to keep their drug screening methods updated. In particular the fentanyl analogues, have been of mounting concern because of their formidable toxic potential [3,4,5,6]. Designer benzodiazepines is another group in focus due to the high prevalence of use, at least in our country [7], compared to other groups of NPS. Establish and maintain a screening method capable of detecting all drugs relevant at any given time is a major challenge.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
