Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe Coupled to a Portable Mass Spectrometer for Rapid Identification of Bulk Drug Seizures

Abstract

The emergence of ambient ionization techniques and their combination with smaller, cheaper mass spectrometers is beginning to make real the possibility of mass spectrometry measurements being made routinely outside of traditional laboratory settings. Here, we describe the development of an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) source for a commercially available miniaturized, single-quadrupole mass spectrometer and subsequent modification of the instrument to allow it to run as a deployable system; we further go on to describe the application of this instrument to the identification of the contents of drug seizures. For the drug seizure analysis, a small quantity of the material (powder, tablet, resin, etc.) was dissolved in ethanol and shaken to extract the analytes, the resulting solutions were then sampled by dipping a sealed glass capillary into the solution prior to analysis by ASAP–MS. Identification of the contents of the seizures was carried out using a NIST searching approach utilizing a bespoke spectral library containing 46 compounds representative of those most commonly encountered in UK forensic laboratories. In order to increase confidence in identification the library sample and subsequent analyses were carried out using a four-channel acquisition method; each channel in this method used a different cone voltage (15, 30, 50, and 70 V) inducing differing levels of in-source fragmentation in each channel; the match score across each channel was then used for identification. Using this developed method, a set of 50 real-life drug samples was analyzed with each of these being identified correctly using the library searching method.

An Evolving Technology That Integrates Classical Methods with Continuous Technological Developments: Thin-Layer Chromatography Bioautography

“…However, ionization is effective and visible, which is of great value in mass spectrometry and in situ biological research. Besides, the atmospheric solid analysis probe (ASAP) is an ambient ionization mass spectrometry technique developed in recent years, with a rapid (less than 30 s) identification and high-sensitivity quantitative (pg level) and accurate quality analysis, which can be performed to achieve rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of each component in complex mixtures [ 104 ]. In addition, laser diode thermal desorption (LDTD) is a new in situ ionization technology, which is connected with MS to complete the sample analysis in a few seconds.…”

Simplified screening approach of anabolic steroid esters using a compact atmospheric solid analysis probe mass spectrometric system

“…A single quadrupole mass analyzer, working at low mass resolution, with ambient ionization techniques such as ASAP that does not include chromatographic separation of the analytes can hamper the unequivocal identification of compounds and suffer from insufficient specificity when operated in full scan mode. The use of in-source fragmentation has been shown to improve the specificity of the technique when used in the forensic field [26,27]. Initially, 15, 30, 50, and 70 V were applied on the selected steroid esters in this study.…”

Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2020: An annual review

“…The coupling of ambient ionization sources with portable mass analyzers demonstrates the potential for rapid, on‐site analysis of suspected illicit substances. McCullough et al coupled ASAP with a miniaturized single quadrupole mass spectrometer for the analysis of 50 drugs of abuse common to the UK, including cocaine, cannabis, MDMA, and ketamine, showing drug identification with an analysis time of as little as 2 min 67 . The simplicity of ASAP and its compatibility with portable instrumentation would make this a prime candidate for use by police forces for rapid on‐site analysis.…”