title: Detection of 3-methylmethcathinone and its metabolites 3-methylephedrine and 3-methylnorephedrine in pubic hair samples by liquid chromatography-high resolution/high accuracy Orbitrap mass spectrometry.
abstract: Hair testing is considered to be one of the most efficient tool to investigate drug-related histories, particularly when the period of use needs to be tested back to many days or even months before sampling. High-resolution mass spectrometry represents today one of the most specific and sensitive analytical techniques to detect psychoactive substances in hair samples following single or multiple drug exposures. In this study pubic hair testing, by means of liquid chromatography-high resolution/high accuracy Orbitrap mass spectrometry, was employed to document the potential intake of five new psychoactive substances by a drug dealer. Pubic hair samples were decontaminated and pulverized with a ball mill, and, after the addition of the internal standard 3,4-methylenedioxypropylamphetamine, extracted with methanol:trifluoroacetic acid 9:1 at 45°C for one night. The obtained extracts were analyzed on a Thermo Fisher Scientific Accela 1250 liquid chromatography system coupled to a Thermo Fisher Scientific single-stage Exactive HCD mass spectrometry system. 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC) was found to be present at a concentration of 25.8ng/mg in the pubic hair sample, whereas the other four designer drugs were found to be absent. 3-methylephedrines and 3-methylnorephedrines, metabolites of 3-MMC, were identified in the same sample, thereby proving the 3-MMC intake by the drug dealer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Prevention, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana, P.le Giustiniani 11/E, I-30174 Mestre (Venezia), Italy. Electronic address: giampietro.frison@ulss12.ve.it.
authors.forename: Giampietro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frison
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Prevention, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana, P.le Giustiniani 11/E, I-30174 Mestre (Venezia), Italy.
authors.forename: Samuela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frasson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Prevention, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana, P.le Giustiniani 11/E, I-30174 Mestre (Venezia), Italy.
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zancanaro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Prevention, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana, P.le Giustiniani 11/E, I-30174 Mestre (Venezia), Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpaola
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Prevention, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana, P.le Giustiniani 11/E, I-30174 Mestre (Venezia), Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zamengo
mesh_terms: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine; C000595610:3-methylmethcathinone
keywords: 3-methylephedrine; 3-methylmethcathinone; 3-methylnorephedrine; Hair analysis; High resolution mass spectrometry