Drug testing and analysis
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Drug testing and analysis · Jul 2014
Determination of 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxy-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-benzeneethanamine (25B-NBOMe) in serum and urine by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry in a case of severe intoxication.
We present a case of 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxy-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-benzeneethanamine (25B-NBOMe), an N-benzyl phenethylamines derivative, intoxication and a high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method for detection and quantification of 25B-NBOMe. A 19-year-old male was found unresponsive with generalized grand mal seizure activity. On the second day of hospitalization, a friend admitted that the patient used 'some unknown drug' called 25B. ⋯ An HPLC-MS/MS method for the identification and quantification of 25B-NBOMe using 2-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)ethanamine (25H-NBOMe) as the internal standard (ISTD) was developed. As this is a novel, single-case presentation, an assay validation was performed prior to testing to ensure the reliability of the analytical results. The serum and urine specimens were determined to contain 180 pg/ml and1900 pg/ml of 25B-NBOMe, respectively.
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Drug testing and analysis · Jul 2014
Characterization of the designer benzodiazepine diclazepam and preliminary data on its metabolism and pharmacokinetics.
Designer benzodiazepines, first offered in online shops selling 'research chemicals' in 2012, provide an attractive alternative to prescription-only benzodiazepines as they are readily available over the Internet at a low price. However, as data regarding pharmacokinetic parameters, metabolism, and detectability in biological fluids are limited, they present a challenge for forensic laboratories. Most recently, diclazepam (other names: 2-chlorodiazepam, Ro 5-3448 or 7-chloro-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one) emerged as a new compound in this class of drugs. ⋯ In serum, the consumption could be proven between 99 h post-intake targeting the parent compound and up to 10 days targeting the metabolite delorazepam. As immunochemical assays are applied for screening purposes quite often, detectability using this technique was assessed, especially since detection of low-dosed benzodiazepines can be sometimes problematic. However, only one of the utilized immunochemical assays was capable of detecting the intake of one tablet diclazepam, and the positive results were restricted to a few urine samples showing relatively high creatinine concentrations.
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Drug testing and analysis · Jul 2014
Cross-reactivity of designer drugs, including cathinone derivatives, in commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
Since the introduction of synthetic heroin, designer drugs have been increasing in prevalence in the United States drug market over the past few decades. Recently, 'legal highs' sold as 'bath salts' have become a household term for one such class of designer drugs. While a number of federal and state bans have been enacted, the abuse of these designer drugs still continues. ⋯ Since this same reagent did not cross-react with other amphetamine-like compounds, it opens the possibility to screen post-mortem specimens without the interference of putrefactive amines. All other assays demonstrated essentially no cross-reactivity towards any of the analytes evaluated. Given these results, a great need exists for more broad-range screening techniques to be applied when analyzing biological specimens by immunoassays for drugs of abuse, specifically the more recent designer drugs.
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Drug testing and analysis · Jul 2014
Discrimination of cathinone regioisomers, sold as 'legal highs', by Raman spectroscopy.
The discrimination of a cross section of cathinone regioisomers, sold as 'legal highs', using Raman spectroscopy, is reported here. Mephedrone and flephedrone were identified in 'legal high' products sold in Irish head shops, and their 2, 3 and 4-isomers were synthesized as reference standards. ⋯ Raman spectra of all the isomers were obtained using far-red excitation (785 nm) and it was found possible to discriminate the isomers of each substituted cathinone. In addition, Raman spectra were also recorded for a number of head shop products and, by comparison with the reference standards, correct isomer assignment for 4-mephedrone, 3-flephedrone, 3,4-methylone, 3,4-butylone, 3,4-MDPV, alpha-naphyrone and beta-naphyrone was achieved, thus providing a non-destructive, high-throughput and minimal sample preparation technique for the discrimination of such drug isomers.