Qualitative analysis of synthetic opioids, synthetic hallucinogens and LSD in urine using LC-MS/MS

ABSTRACT

Synthetic opioids and synthetic hallucinogens continue to expand in the illicit drugs market where they are designed and synthesized to avoid detection in routine drug tests. It is therefore crucial for laboratories to develop analytical methods for the detection of these drugs in urine. A method for the simultaneous analysis of synthetic opioids (including fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, U-47700 and AH-7921), phenylalkylamine hallucinogens (25C-NBOMe, 25B-NBOMe, 25I-NBOMe, 25H-NBOMe, 25C-NBOH, 25B-NBOH, 25I-NBOH and 25H-NBOH) along with LSD, 2-oxo-3-OH-LSD (Oxo-LSD), psilocin and bufotenine was hence developed. Briefly, urine samples (0.5 mL) underwent enzymatic hydrolysis and matrix clean-up using supported-liquid extraction (SLE) prior to analysis on LC-MS/MS. The SLE extraction recoveries ranged from 62.8% to 97.4% and limits of detection between 0.1–3 ng/ml were achieved. The matrix effects results ranged from 70.6% to 124.9% and there was no carryover up to 100 ng/ml for psilocin and bufotenine and 30 ng/ml for the rest of the analytes. Extracted urine samples were stable for up to three days for Oxo-LSD and seven days for the rest when stored at 4°C. The method was validated to be accurate and precise for each analyte at their individual cut-off points. It was also successfully applied on suspected drug abusers’ urine samples.

KEYWORDS:

• Supported-liquid extraction
• synthetic opioids
• LSD
• NBOMe
• NBOH

Acknowledgements

The authors thank and acknowledge the hard work of all the staff from the Drug Abuse Testing Unit of the Analytical Toxicology Laboratory for the support and help rendered throughout the whole project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore.