Analysis of Alprazolam by DART-TOF Mass Spectrometry in Counterfeit and Routine Drug Identification Cases

Abstract

The high prevalence of alprazolam abuse translates to an increased workload for crime laboratories in characterizing seized tablets. These tablets may originate as diverted pharmaceuticals or counterfeited mimics, so efficient analytical techniques should provide confirmatory data while minimizing destruction of evidence. We offer the first report of a validated forensic method for confirming alprazolam tablets by direct analysis in real time-time of flight (DART-TOF) mass spectrometric analysis. This technique provides rapid identification of target analytes with minimal sample preparation, allowing direct analysis in the atmospheric sample gap. Selectivity is achieved through high resolution and mass accuracy, unique ion fragments, and chlorine isotopic ratios. This method utilizes fragmentation in two separate voltage functions to observe the alprazolam pseudo molecular ion at 309.09070 using 40 V and major ion fragments of 281.07197 and 205.07657 at 120 V. These parameters allow our laboratory to confirm alprazolam tablets efficiently, without compromising quality forensic standards.

Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry with collision‐induced dissociation for structural analysis of synthetic cannabinoids

“…DART‐MS provides the ability to sample material directly, without the need for extractions, sample preparation, or chromatographic separations. These beneficial qualities have allowed DART‐MS to be applied towards an extremely wide range of analytes, including controlled substances, pesticides, fragrances, pepper spray, and residues associated with sexual assault, among many others …”

Analysis of pharmaceutical products and herbal medicines using ambient mass spectrometry

“…The pharmaceutical products in the form of tablet are generally analyzed using this strategy, and various active pharmaceutical ingredients in different pharmaceutical tablets [39,56,[65][66][67][68] as well as impurity D in atorvastatin tablet [68] were successfully analyzed and investigated. In addition, several raw herbal materials including Atropa acuminate [69], Piper betle Linn [70], Ocimum basilicum, Mentha spicata, and Coriandrum sativum [71], Aconitum plants [72], Datura seeds [73], and Rauwolfia species [74] were also analyzed by DART-MS via such a strategy.…”

Direct analysis in real time—Mass spectrometry (DART‐MS) in forensic and security applications

“…Areas of interest for the forensic drug applications of DART have included screening for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) or its derivatives, synthetic cannabinoids, and cannabimimetics (Blackledge, ; Musah et al, ,; Takahashi et al, ; Duvivier et al, ; Jacobs & Steiner, ; Lesiak et al, ); detecting adulterations and contaminants in drugs (Fernández et al, ; Newton et al, ,; Nyadong et al, ; Chernetsova et al, ; Samms et al, ; Zhou et al, ; Vaclavik, Krynitsky, & Rader, ); determining the nature or amount of the active ingredient in various known drugs or unknown pharmaceutical samples (Cody, Laramee, & Durst, ; Ropero‐Miller et al, ; Howlett & Steiner, ; Likar et al, ; Lesiak et al, , ; Easter & Steiner, ; Musah et al, ; Kuki et al, ); identifying synthetic precursors to drugs of abuse (Steiner, ); and detecting drug residues on surfaces, in fingerprints, or in liquid matrices (Cody, Laramee, & Durst, ; Blackledge, ; Bennett & Steiner, ; Grange & Sovocool, ; Lim et al, ).…”