title: Analytical Validation of a Portable Mass Spectrometer Featuring Interchangeable, Ambient Ionization Sources for High Throughput Forensic Evidence Screening.
abstract: Forensic evidentiary backlogs are indicative of the growing need for cost-effective, high-throughput instrumental methods. One such emerging technology that shows high promise in meeting this demand while also allowing on-site forensic investigation is portable mass spectrometric (MS) instrumentation, particularly that which enables the coupling to ambient ionization techniques. While the benefits of rapid, on-site screening of contraband can be anticipated, the inherent legal implications of field-collected data necessitates that the analytical performance of technology employed be commensurate with accepted techniques. To this end, comprehensive analytical validation studies are required before broad incorporation by forensic practitioners can be considered, and are the focus of this work. Pertinent performance characteristics such as throughput, selectivity, accuracy/precision, method robustness, and ruggedness have been investigated. Reliability in the form of false positive/negative response rates is also assessed, examining the effect of variables such as user training and experience level. To provide flexibility toward broad chemical evidence analysis, a suite of rapidly-interchangeable ion sources has been developed and characterized through the analysis of common illicit chemicals and emerging threats like substituted phenethylamines. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traub
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Fatigante
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mancias
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Adam E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Seth E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Management and Quantitative Methods, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wieland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine and Core Facility Metabolomics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oberacher
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminal Justice Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA. mulligan@ilstu.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Mulligan
keywords: Ambient ionization; Analytical validation; Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization; Desorption electrospray ionization; Forensic evidence; Forensics; Paper spray ionization; Portable mass spectrometer; SWGDRUG