Determination of synthetic hallucinogens in oral fluids by microextraction by packed sorbent and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A fast and simple procedure based on microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of 28 synthetic hallucinogens in oral fluids, including lysergic acid diethylamide and substances from NBOMe, NBOH, NBF, 2C, and substituted amphetamine categories. Extraction conditions such as type of sorbent, sample pH, number of charge/discharge cycles, and elution volume were studied. Hallucinogenic compounds were extracted from oral fluid samples using C18 MEPS, loading with 100 μL sample (adjusted to pH 7) in 3 cycles, washing with 100 μL deionized water, and eluting with 50 μL methanol in 1 cycle, giving quantitative recoveries and no significant matrix effects. Limits of detection from 0.09 to 1.22 μg L−1; recoveries from 80 to 129% performed in spiked oral fluid samples at 20, 50, and 100 μg L−1; and high precision with relative standard deviations lower than 9% were obtained. The proposed methodology was demonstrated to be appropriate for the simple and sensitive determination of NBOMe derivates and other synthetic hallucinogenic substances in oral fluid samples. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]