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Follow on Google News | PolyU develops a new technique for rapid detection of drugs-of-abuseBy: PolyU The conventional approach for drug analysis consists of two steps: firstly the preliminary screening to deal with a large number of samples, followed by the confirmatory analysis. However, the preliminary screening, which involves the use of test kits, has the problem of producing false positive or false negative results, while the confirmatory analysis is time-consuming and laborious as extensive sample pretreatment and chromatographic separation process, a process to separate various chemical compounds in a sample, are needed before the analysis with the mass spectrometric method. In the new WT-ESI-MS technique, common household wooden toothpicks, which are readily available in low cost, are employed to replace the conventionally used capillary for sample introduction in mass spectrometry. Wooden tips are capable of reducing interferences of other substances and free from clogging which may occur in capillary. These desirable features permit direct mass spectrometric analysis of drugs in urine and oral fluid without having to go through sample pretreatment and chromatographic separation, enabling the analysis of one sample to be completed within a few minutes. This technique significantly enhances the speed and level of convenience in drug analysis. The research results show that the new WT-ESI-MS technique is an effective means for the analysis of ketamine, methamphetamine and MDMA in urine as well as oral fluid, and cocaine in oral fluid, with high analytical performance and reliability. The research team at ABCT continues to develop more sensitive analytical methods for rapid and reliable drug analysis, and expand the analysis to other drugs such as cannabis and heroin. In addition, the team will develop a portable device for on-site drug analysis in the next two to three years, in order to further expedite the drug analysis process. End
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