Simultaneous Determination of Eight Underivatized Amphetamines in Hair by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS)
Journal of Analytical Toxicology March 1, 2004 Roman Stanaszek, Wojciech Piekoszewski 40 citations
A new analytical method using liquid chromatography with atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry was developed to detect eight amphetamines in hair samples. After alkaline digestion and extraction, the method achieved detection limits as low as 0.05 ng/mg for methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA, and MDEA, and up to 0.20 ng/mg for methcathinone and PMA. Testing on 93 hair samples from patients in detoxification and methadone treatment found measurable concentrations of ephedrine, methcathinone, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and MDEA, while MDA and PMA were never detected. The method provides a sensitive, linear response from 0 to 20 ng/mg for all target drugs.