Currently, this work is focused on developing and validating new ways for quick forensic screening and analysis based on advanced chromatography and mass-spectrometry systems such as LC-QQQ-MS/MS, LC-QTOF-MS, GC/MS and GC/MS/MS.
The new methods will widen the capabilities of convetional drug-screening procedures involving immunoassays.
FIU’s International Forensic Research Institute’s Forensic & Analytical Toxicology facility associate professor and director Dr. Anthony DeCaprio noted that since routine immunoassay drug-screening methods are unable to detect most of the hundreds of individual designer drugs that have been identified, the university is working with Agilent to develop advanced analytical methods to screen and confirm the presence of such drugs in both ante- and post-mortem specimens.
"Recently, we validated a method for the detection and quantification of 32 designer drugs in serum, including 24 phenethylamines, four piperazines, and four tryptamines. In collaboration with Agilent, we will continue to expand our tandem mass-spectral library to approximately 300 designer drugs," DeCaprio added.
Designer drugs are derivatives of existing illicit drug compounds that are synthesized to circumvent current laws and to generate similar effects as illegal recreational drugs. Major classes of designer drugs include phenethylamines, cathinones, tryptamines, piperazines, and synthetic cannabinoids.
Agilent Forensics and Toxicology global marketing manager Tom Gluodenis said that it is their goal to provide private, academic and government institutions with sophisticated technology and screening methods that will quickly and accurately identify these substances so that laws enacted to restrict their use can be readily enforced.