Validated Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Analyzing LSD, iso-LSD, nor-LSD, and O-H-LSD in Blood and Urine
Journal of Analytical Toxicology – June 01, 2009
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was successfully validated for detecting lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and its metabolites in biological samples. The limits of detection were impressively low, at 5 pg/mL for LSD in blood and 10 pg/mL in urine, while quantitation limits ranged from 20 to 50 pg/mL depending on the analyte. This method demonstrated high accuracy and precision across a range of concentrations, marking the first detection of O-H-LSD in blood from a suspected user, enhancing forensic toxicology capabilities.
Abstract
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Forensic Science and Identification Services was looking for a confirmatory method for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). As a result, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was validated for the confirmation and quantitation of LSD, iso-LSD, N-demethyl-LSD (nor-LSD), and 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD (O-H-LSD). Relative retention time and ion ratios were used as identification parameters. Limits of detection (LOD) in blood were 5 pg/mL for LSD and iso-LSD and 10 pg/mL for nor-LSD and O-H-LSD. In urine, the LOD was 10 pg/mL for all analytes. Limits of quantitation (LOQ) in blood and urine were 20 pg/mL for LSD and iso-LSD and 50 pg/mL for nor-LSD and O-H-LSD. The method was linear, accurate, and precise from 10 to 2000 pg/mL in blood and 20 to 2000 pg/mL in urine for LSD and iso-LSD and from 20 to 2000 pg/mL in blood and 50 to 2000 pg/mL in urine for nor-LSD and O-H-LSD with a coefficient of determination (R2) ≥ 0.99. The method was applied to blinded biological control samples and biological samples taken from a suspected LSD user. This is the first reported detection of O-H-LSD in blood from a suspected LSD user.