title: A straightforward, validated liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous detection of nine drugs of abuse and their metabolites in hair and nails.
abstract: Hair and nails allow for a stable accumulation of compounds over time and retrospective investigation of past exposure and/or consumption. Owing to their long window of detection (weeks to months), analysis of these matrices can provide information complementary to blood and urine analysis or can be used in standalone when e.g. elimination from the body has already occurred. Drugs of abuse are often used together and, therefore, multi-analyte methods capable of detecting several substances and their metabolites in a single run are of importance. This paper presents the development and validation of a method based on liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous detection of nine drugs of abuse and their metabolites in hair and nails. We focused on a simple and straightforward sample preparation to reduce costs, and allow application in routine laboratory practice. Chromatographic and mass spectrometric parameters, such as column type, mobile phase, and multiple reaction monitoring transitions were optimized. The method was validated according to the European Medicine Agency guidelines with an assessment of specificity, limit of quantification (LOQ), linearity, accuracy, precision, carry-over, matrix effects, recovery, and process efficiency. Linearity ranged from 25 to 20 000 pg mg-1hair and from 50 to 20 000 pg mg-1nails, and the lowest calibration point achieved the requirements for the LOQ (25 pg mg-1for hair and 50 pg mg-1for nails). Although it was not the main focus of the article, the reliability of the method was proven through successful participation in a proficiency test, and by investigation of authentic hair and nail samples from self-reported drug users. In the future, the method should allow comparison between the two matrices to acquire an in-depth knowledge of nail analysis and to define cutoff levels for nail analysis, as they exist for hair.
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: delphine.cappelle@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cappelle
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and TDM Laboratory, ZNA Stuivenberg Hospital, Lange Beeldekenstraat 267, B2060 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Doncker
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gys
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kamelia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krysiak
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and TDM Laboratory, ZNA Stuivenberg Hospital, Lange Beeldekenstraat 267, B2060 Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Laboratory Medicine, AZ Alma, Moeie 18, B9900 Eeklo, Belgium.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Keukeleire
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maho
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Brussels (UZ Jette), Laarbeeklaan 101, B1090 Jette, Belgium.
authors.forename: Cleo L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Crunelle
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dom
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: alexander.vannuijs@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Alexander L N
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: van Nuijs
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Toxicology and TDM Laboratory, ZNA Stuivenberg Hospital, Lange Beeldekenstraat 267, B2060 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neels
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Drugs of abuse; Hair; Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; Metabolites; Nails; Validation