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Novel Technology of Rapid Detection of Drugs of Abuse

Accurate detection of drugs of abuse in urine and oral fluid using advanced mass spectrometry technology

3_ABCT_33_0418_1

Novel Technology of Rapid Detection of Drugs of Abuse

Conventional analytical methods for drug analysis are time-consuming, requiring tedious sample preparations. Rapid screening devices are currently available, but they may produce inaccurate results. Therefore, we have developed 3 advanced mass spectrometry technologies for rapid detection and quantitation of 6 common drugs of abuse, i.e. ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), cannabis (THC) and heroin, and their metabolites in urine and oral fluids. It is achieved by applying a high voltage directly to sample loaded with organic solvent, inducing electrospray ionization and generating mass spectra.

The technologies developed by PolyU include: 1) Wooden-tip Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (WT-ESI-MS), which is a simple and economical method with the use of a wooden toothpick; 2) Solid Phase Microextraction Coupled to Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (SPME-ESI-MS), which is an extraction and enrichment technique for enhancing the sensitivity of chemical analysis, and 3) SPME coupled with commercially available portable gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) for on-site analysis of drugs-of-abuse.

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