Can the Intake of a Synthetic Tryptamine be Detected Only by Blood Plasma Analysis? A Clinical Toxicology Case Involving 4-HO-MET
Journal of Analytical Toxicology June 3, 2021 Lea Wagmann, Sascha K. Manier, Markus R. Meyer 11 citations
A non-fatal clinical case involving the synthetic tryptamine 4-HO-MET (metocin or methylcybin) was analyzed using blood plasma. Liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS-MS) detected the parent compound and four metabolites—N-demethyl-, oxo-, hydroxy-4-HO-MET, and the N-oxide—while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry did not detect it. The plasma concentration of 4-HO-MET was 193 ng/mL. These findings provide data for clinical and forensic toxicologists interpreting future cases involving synthetic tryptamines, particularly when only blood samples are available.