title: Cleaning up blood samples using a modified "QuEChERS" procedure for the determination of drugs of abuse and benzodiazepines by UPLC-MSMS(☆).
abstract: The "QuEChERS" (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) dispersive SPE (dSPE) method is an emerging sample preparation technique that is becoming increasingly popular in the area of multi-residue pesticide analysis in food and agricultural products. A simplified QuEChERS extraction method followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of forensically relevant drugs of abuse (opiates including buprenorphine, methadone and fentanyl and analogues, cocaine and metabolites, amphetamines, LSD) and benzodiazepines and analogues (Z-drugs) in 1mL of human whole blood performing a sole extraction. The method was validated showing good repeatability, accuracy and linearity; LODs were 0.5ng/mL for all benzodiazepines tested while for drugs of abuse LODs varied from 0.05 to 2ng/mL. The method showed high throughput capabilities and was applied on various forensic cases for determination of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L. go F. Vito 1, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Anzillotti
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L. go F. Vito 1, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odoardi
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L. go F. Vito 1, Rome 00168, Italy. Electronic address: sabina.stranorossi@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strano-Rossi
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D009294:Narcotics / Q000097:blood*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000097:blood*; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D012997:Solvents; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D009294:Narcotics; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012997:Solvents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; C007650:ethyl acetate
keywords: Blood; Forensic toxicology; Quechers; Sample preparation; UHPLC–MS/MS