Screening by LC-MS/MS and fast chromatography; an alternative to traditional immunoassay screening in clinical and forensic laboratories?

摘要

Fast LC-MS/MS in combination with column switching allows a comprehensive and selective drug screening compared to existing immuno-assay screening. In addition, drugs which are not detected with current immuno-assays (e.g. z-drugs) can be easily detected and quantified in human urine or human blood. In the last twelve months a few hundred cases, either form traffic controls or traffic accidents were analyzed positive for using tranquilizers or hypnotics. Among these cases were about 9 % where the driver has either taken zolpidem or zopiclone before driving a vehicle. Even though these z-drugs have substantial shorter half-life times and therefore cause fewer problems if taken according to the prescription, a fast and routine screening is essential in forensic toxicology. On-going research aims to further shorten the total run time, the equilibration step and to incorporate additional licit drugs and illicit drugs for a more complete forensic urine and blood screening based on LC-MS/MS.