Rationale Ambient mass spectrometry techniques are much required in forensic chemistry to evaluate evidence with low analytical interference, high confidence, and accuracy. However, traditional methodologies, such as paper spray ionization, have been shown to present low sensitivity in the analysis of illicit drugs from biological matrices. Methods Fiber spray ionization mass spectrometry (FSI‐MS) was developed using a capillary polypropylene (PP) hollow fiber. Seized samples of drugs, i.e. a tablet, blotter paper, hashish, and cocaine powder, were analyzed. Cocaine was quantified from whole urine by dipping the fiber directly into solution. FSI‐MS was tested for the analysis of a sample of urine obtained from a drug abuse suspect. Results The FSI(+) analysis showed the detection of different types of synthetic drugs in tablet and blotter paper samples, e.g. amphetamine, cathinones, phenethylamines, and opioids, while pure cocaine and different types of coca alkaloids were identified from cocaine powder with good sensitivity and high mass accuracy. The hashish analysis by FSI(−) revealed signals of cannabinoids, cannabinoid acids, and cannabinoid derivatives, detected mainly as [M − H]− ions or chlorine adducts [M + Cl]−. The quantification of cocaine in whole urine showed good sensitivity and precision with limits of detection and quantification of 5.16 and 17.21 ng/mL, respectively, linearity above 0.999, and relative standard deviation below 2.71%. The evaluation of seized sample of urine showed the detection of cocaine with relative ion intensity greater than 36%, as well as the metabolites benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene with a relative intensity of 1.4% and 6%, respectively. Conclusions The developed FSI‐MS method has the potential to be applied to forensic sample evaluation as well as to determine illicit drugs from biological matrices in toxicological analysis. The use of a capillary PP fiber has advantages as an extractor agent and ionizing substrate, and also the feature of it being dipped directly into the sample, thus preserving the integrity of the sample, which makes this a very promising ambient mass spectrometry method and relevant to forensic chemistry.

For the effective reduction of traffic accidents related to driving under influence of drugs (DUID), we suggest the intensification of enforcement actions against the use of alcohol by drivers, the definition of which illicit drugs should be surveyed, as well the cutoff values, the promotion of changing legislation to oblige drivers to provide samples for toxicological testing, and the establishment of public information programs and specific actions aimed at young drivers to promote behavioral changes.

A GC-MS method for simultaneous analysis of cocaine (COC), amphetamines (AMPs), opiates, cannabinoids and their metabolites in vitreous humor (VH) was developed and fully validated. VH samples were extracted using solid phase extraction and injected into the GC-MS, using a selected ion monitoring mode. Linearity ranged from 10 to 1000 ng/mL; the exception was anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), for which linearity ranged from 10 to 750 ng/mL. Inter-assay imprecision lay from 1.2 to 10.0%, intra-assay imprecision was <10.4% for all the analytes and accuracy ranged from 95.6 to 104.0%. An limit of quantitation for all drugs was 10 ng/mL and recoveries ranged from 70.4 to 100.1% for basic and neutral compounds; the acid compounds had poor recovery--<40%. The validated method was applied to 10 VH samples taken from individuals whose blood had screened positive for drugs of abuse. All the individuals screened positive for COC in the blood (seven samples) also had positive results in VH; COC concentration ranged from 30.81 to 283.97 ng/mL (mean 186.98 ng/mL) and benzoylecgonine concentration ranged from 11.47 to 460.98 ng/mL (mean 133.91 ng/mL). It was also noticed that, in five cases, cocaethylene was detected. AEME was also quantified in one case. The use of AMP detected by blood analysis was confirmed in the VH of one individual (24.31 ng/mL). However, samples taken from three individuals whose blood tested positive for carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol presented negative results. The results demonstrated that VH is a suitable alternative biological sample to determine COC, AMPs, opiates and their metabolites.

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