Simultaneous analysis of 29 synthetic cannabinoids and metabolites, amphetamines, and cannabinoids in human whole blood by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry – A New Zealand perspective of use in 2018

Abstract

We describe the validation of a method for the simultaneous analysis of 29 synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) and metabolites, 4 amphetamines, and 2 cannabinoids in human whole blood. This method enables one analysis to cover what previously required multiple analyses for these classic and novel drugs-of-abuse with diverse physicochemical properties. The scope of targeted analytes was based on the most prevalent drugs-ofabuse and SCs encountered at the New Zealand border in 2017 and included parent compounds and metabolites belonging to the indole and indazole carboxamide, quinolinyl indole carboxylate, and naphthoylindole classifications. Samples were prepared by supported-liquid-extraction (SLE) followed by liquid chromatography −tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS) analysis with positive electrospray ionization (ESI). The method was validated with respect to selectivity, matrix effects, process efficiency, sensitivity, repeatability, extract stability, and carryover for qualitative confirmation. Linearity as well as accuracy and precision data at target decision concentrations were also evaluated. The limits of detection and confirmation ranged from 0.1 to 6.0 ng/mL and 1.0 to 6.0 ng/mL, respectively. The described method was successfully applied to the analysis of 564 ante-and post-mortem blood samples in 2018. There were 132 cases (23%) with positive findings of at least one SC, with the five most commonly detected SCs being AMB-FUBINACA and/or acid (61%), 5F-ADB and/or acid (40%), ADB-FUBINACA (11%), 5F-MDMB-PICA acid (6%), and MDMB-FUBINACA acid (6%). The results also demonstrate the predominant presence of metabolites at higher levels than the unchanged parent SCs in blood, highlighting the need to maintain forensic screening methods capable of the simultaneous detection of both parent compounds and metabolites.

Metabolic profiling of synthetic cannabinoid 5F‐ADB and identification of metabolites in authentic human blood samples via human liver microsome incubation and ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/high‐resolution mass spectrometry

“…In the instance of 5F-ADB, multiple reports on the identification of M5 in blood have been published. [39][40][41][42]45,50 The authors only found one published report, by Kraemer et al, 43 mentioning the identification of M1 in blood and this did not provide detailed analysis of M1. The current report supplements this work, and provides the first detailed report on the presence of M1 in blood in the absence of the parent 5F-ADB compound.…”

“…A number of toxicology reports from Bulgaria, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Turkey, and the United States have included overdose, drowning, driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), and prison inmate fatalities linked to the consumption of 5F-ADB. 27,34,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52] Analysis of human biological specimens for the presence of synthetic cannabinoids typically entails identifying the parent drug in blood specimens, and/or its metabolites in urine. 7 However, this approach is incomplete, as many synthetic cannabinoid metabolites have been determined to be pharmacologically active and also appear in blood samples.…”

“…5F‐ADB has been implicated in numerous acute toxicity events and fatalities throughout the world. A number of toxicology reports from Bulgaria, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Turkey, and the United States have included overdose, drowning, driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), and prison inmate fatalities linked to the consumption of 5F‐ADB 27,34,39–52 …”

Cannabis et cannabinoïdes de synthèse. À propos de leur détection biologique

“…La littérature scientifique récente est très orientée « cannabinoïdes de synthèse », d'autant que certains ont été identifiés dans des e-liquides de vapotage [22]. Des méthodes existent dans le sang [23], les urines [24], la salive [25] et les cheveux [26]. Toutes ces méthodes mettent en avant plusieurs difficultés : connaître les nouveaux composés disponibles dans la rue et sur Internet, obtenir les substances de référence pour étalonner les instruments analytiques et surtout identifier correctement la molécule cible, du fait d'une métabolisation extensive.…”

Development and validation of a LC-ESI-MS/MS method for simultaneous whole blood analysis of 51 new psychoactive substances

“…To detect the use of NPS, metabolites and/or the parent molecule, is a particular analytical challenge in biofluids, being difficult because of the low concentrations encountered for the more potent substances and the lack of knowledge about many of them (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Table 2 shows the analytical conditions defined for each substance with the respective detection limits obtained.…”