Finding the proverbial needle: Non‐targeted screening of synthetic opioids in equine plasma. Issue 5 (15th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klingberg, Joshua; Cawley, Adam; Shimmon, Ronald; Fouracre, Chris; Pasin, Daniel; Fu, Shanlin
• Other Names: Cawley Adam guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Drug testing and analysis. Volume 13:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 977
• Page End: 989
• Publication Date: 2020-07-15
• Subjects: fentanyl -- HRMS -- new psychoactive substances -- non‐targeted screening -- synthetic opioids; Drugs -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Drug testing -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; 615.1901
• DOI: 10.1002/dta.2893
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1942-7603

Abstract

Abstract: Synthetic opioids are a class of compounds that are of particular concern due to their high potency and potential health impacts. With the relentless emergence of new synthetic opioid derivatives, non‐targeted screening strategies are required that do not rely on the use of library spectra or reference materials. In this study, product ion searching, and Kendrick mass defect analysis were investigated for non‐targeted screening of synthetic opioids. The estimated screening cut‐offs for these techniques ranged between 0.05 and 0.1 ng/mL. These techniques were designed to not be reliant on a particular vendor's software, meaning that they can be applied to existing drug screening protocols, without requiring the development and validation of new analytical procedures. The efficacy of the developed techniques was tested through blind trials, with spiked samples inserted amongst authentic plasma samples, which demonstrated the usefulness of these methods for high‐throughput screening. The use of a non‐targeted screening workflow that contains complementary techniques can increase the likelihood of detecting compounds of interest within a sample, as well as the confidence in detections that are made. Abstract : A non‐targeted detection workflow for the screening of synthetic opioids in equine plasma is proposed. The developed workflow involves the use of product ion searching and Kendrick mass defect analysis to detect specific groups of synthetic opioids within a complex biological matrix.