Screening for and validated quantification of phenethylamine-type designer drugs and mescaline in human blood plasma by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS – June 01, 2005
Source: PubMed
Summary
Detecting emerging designer drugs in the bloodstream is vital for understanding their effects. Scientists developed a precise method to identify and measure several phenethylamine-type substances, including mescaline, directly in human blood plasma. Employing sophisticated gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, the team successfully validated a highly accurate technique. This reliable approach provides essential data on these compounds' presence, offering a critical advancement for toxicology and public health monitoring.
Abstract
In recent years, several newer designer drugs of the so-called 2C series such as 2C-D, 2C-E, 2C-P, 2C-B, 2C-I, 2C-T-2, and 2C-T-7 have entered the illicit drug market as recreational drugs. Some fatal intoxications involving 2C-T-7 have been reported. Only scarce data have been published about analyses of these substances in human blood and/or plasma. This paper describes a method for screening and simultaneous quantification of the above-mentioned compounds and their analog mescaline in human blood plasma. The analytes were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selected-ion monitoring mode, after mixed-mode solid-phase extraction (HCX) and derivatization with heptafluorobutyric anhydride. The method was fully validated according to international guidelines. Validation data for 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7 were unacceptable. For all other analytes, the method was linear from 5 to 500 microg/L and the data for accuracy (bias) and precision (coefficient of variation) were within the acceptance limits of +/-15% and <15%, respectively (within +/-20% and <20% near the limit of quantification of 5 microg/L).