• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.210-218
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• 2009

A gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of amphetamine derivatives and norketamine in human hair. Preparation of hair involves external decontamination, mechanical pulverization, incubation and extraction prior to instrumental analysis. The samples were derivatized using heptafluorobutyric anhydride, and analyzed by GC-MS/MS. The linear ranges were 0.05-20.0 ng/mg for the analytes except for 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, with good coefficients of determination ($r^2$ >0.998). The intra-day and inter-day precisions were within 10.7% and 8.5%, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day accuracies were between -1.6 and 17.0% and -2.6 and 10.5%, respectively. The limits of detections for each analyte were lower than 0.007 ng/mg, while recoveries were 75.9-100.9%. When the method was applied to hair samples obtained from suspected drug abusers, the concentrations in hair samples were 0.97-19.30 ng/mg for methamphetamine and 0.14-2.56 ng/mg for amphetamine.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2011

A simultaneous detection and quantification method for determining the Phenylalkylamine derivatives, such as methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine (AM), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), ketamine (KT), norketamine (NKT), phentermine (PT), fenfluramine (FFA) and phenmetrazine (PM), in oral fluid was developed and validated according to international guidelines. The validated method was applied to actual oral fluid samples collected from drug abuse suspects. The recovery of phenylalkylamines from oral fluid collection devices was also assessed. Oral fluid specimens from 20 drug abuse suspects submitted by the police were collected using Salivette$^{TM}$, Quantisal$^{TM}$ or direct expectoration. The samples were screened using a biochip array analyzer. For confirmation, the samples were analyzed by GC-MS in selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode after extraction using automated SPE with a mixed-mode cation exchange cartridge and derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA). The results from the immunoassay were consistent with those from GC-MS. All the oral fluid samples gave positive results for MA, AM, PT and/or PM. The detection of phenylalkylamines in oral fluid can provide a better indication of recent use than urine or hair. Therefore, the oral fluid specimen was useful for demonstrating phenylalkylamines abuse in the driving under the influence of drug (DUID) as an alternative specimen for urine.