title: Drug confirmation by mass spectrometry: Identification criteria and complicating factors.
abstract: Drug confirmation by mass spectrometry coupled with chromatography is essential to toxicology, doping control, pain management, and workplace drug testing. High confidence in this technology is due to its superior specificity and sensitivity. However, there are challenges associated with drug confirmation, and proper setup and validation of these assays are important in assuring high-quality results. In this article, assay parameters required for drug confirmation are summarized based on recent scientific publications, various established guidelines, and our own practical experience. Factors affecting the result quality and correct results interpretation are critically reviewed. Several emerging technologies and their potential applications are briefly explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Derrick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Electronic address: wangs2@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Sihe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Chromatography; Drug confirmation; Mass spectrometry; Toxicology