Paper spray mass spectrometry: A new drug checking tool for harm reduction in the opioid overdose crisis

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 729-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory W. Vandergrift ◽  
Chris G. Gill
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Paper Spray ◽  
New Drug ◽  
Drug Checking

scholarly journals A new quantitative drug checking technology for harm reduction: Pilot study in Vancouver, Canada using paper spray mass spectrometry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Borden ◽  
Armin Saatchi ◽  
Gregory W. Vandergrift ◽  
Jan Palaty ◽  
Mark Lysyshyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Paper Spray ◽  
Drug Checking

scholarly journals Xylazine detected in unregulated opioids and drug administration equipment in Toronto, Canada: clinical and social implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanette M. Bowles ◽  
Karen McDonald ◽  
Nazlee Maghsoudi ◽  
Hayley Thompson ◽  
Cristiana Stefan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Drug Markets ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
The North ◽  
Rapid Responses ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Drug Checking

Abstract Background The North American opioid overdose crisis is driven in large part by the presence of unknown psychoactive adulterants in the dynamic, unregulated drug supply. We herein report the first detection of the psychoactive veterinary compound xylazine in Toronto, the largest urban center in Canada, by the city’s drug checking service. Methods Toronto’s Drug Checking Service launched in October 2019. Between then and February 2021, 2263 samples were submitted for analysis. The service is offered voluntarily at harm reduction agencies that include supervised consumption services. Samples were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Targeted and/or untargeted screens for psychoactive substances were undertaken. Results In September 2020, xylazine was first detected by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service. Among samples analyzed from September 2020 to February 2021 expected to contain fentanyl in isolation (610) or in combination with methamphetamine (16), xylazine was detected in 46 samples (7.2% and 12.5% of samples, respectively). Samples were predominantly drawn from used drug equipment. Three of the samples containing xylazine (6.5%) were associated with an overdose. Conclusion We present the first detection of xylazine in Toronto, North America’s fourth-largest metropolitan area. The increased risk of overdose associated with use of xylazine and its detection within our setting highlights the importance of drug checking services in supporting rapid responses to the emergence of potentially harmful adulterants. These data also highlight the clinical challenges presented by the dynamic nature of unregulated drug markets and the concomitant need to establish regulatory structures to reduce their contribution to overdose morbidity and mortality.

scholarly journals Diverse Psychotropic Substances Detected in Drug and Paraphernalia Samples Submitted to Drug Checking Services in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, October 2019-April 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Scarfone ◽  
Nazlee Maghsoudi ◽  
Karen McDonald ◽  
Cristiana Stefan ◽  
Daniel R Beriault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
People Who Use Drugs ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
High Potency ◽  
Market Monitoring ◽  
Drug Checking

Abstract BackgroundThe opioid overdose crisis has generated innovative harm reduction and drug market monitoring strategies. In Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a multi-site drug checking service (DCS) pilot project was launched in October 2019. The project provides people who use drugs with information on the chemical composition of their substances, thereby increasing their capacity to make more informed decisions about their drug use and avoid overdose. DCS also provides real-time market monitoring to identify trends in the unregulated drug supply. MethodsSample data were obtained through analyses of drug and used paraphernalia samples submitted anonymously and free of charge to DCS in downtown Toronto from October 10, 2019 to April 9, 2020, representing the first six months of DCS implementation. Analyses were conducted in clinical laboratories using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS), and liquid chromatography or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS, GC-MS) techniques. ResultsOverall, 555 samples were submitted, with 49% (271) of samples that were found to contain high-potency opioids, of which 87% (235) also contained stimulants. Benzodiazepines or related drugs were also found in 21% (116) of all samples, and synthetic cannabinoids in 1% (7) of all samples. Negative effects (including overdose) were reported for 12% (69) of samples submitted for analysis.ConclusionsToronto’s DCS identified a range of high-potency opioids with stimulants, benzodiazepines and related drugs, and a synthetic cannabinoid, AMB-FUBINACA. This information can inform a range of evidence-informed overdose prevention efforts.

scholarly journals Measuring adulterants in street drugs: Implementation of drug residue testing using portable mass spectrometry in a Northeastern U.S. harm reduction program, 2019-2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Boulad ◽  
Atsushi Matsumoto ◽  
Claudia Santelices ◽  
Thomas J. Stopka
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
People Who Use Drugs ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Portable Devices ◽  
Portable Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Drug Checking ◽  
Fentanyl Analogues

Abstract Background: Fatal opioid overdose deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl continue to escalate in the U.S. Drug checking services, as a harm reduction intervention for people who use drugs, has gained support as an effective strategy to reduce fatal overdoses. We examined implementation of drug checking services using portable devices in a syringe services program in the Northeastern U.S. Methods: Trained staff collected trace drug specimens from used paraphernalia provided by participants who requested drug checking services. All the specimens were tested using a portable mass spectrometer and sub-samples were tested for the detection of fentanyl using fentanyl testing strips. We assessed characteristics of participants who used drug checking services, self-reported types of trace specimens of substances that participants reported providing for testing, the actual mass spectrometer test results of these specimens, and agreement of the mass spectrometer and fentanyl testing strips results in detection of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. Results: Of 155 unique participants who provided demographic information, 59% identified as male and 74.1% as White, with a mean age of 37.7 years. Based on analysis of 396 specimens tested with the portable mass spectrometer, the most common single substance detected was fentanyl (37.7%), without a trace of heroin or other adulterants, followed by methamphetamine (18.2%), and cocaine (13.6%). Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues were detected in specimens provided by participants that were reported as heroin (60.8%), cocaine (11.1%), and methamphetamine (6.7%). We found modest agreement of testing results between the mass spectrometer and fentanyl testing strips. Conclusions: Use of drug checking services within syringe services programs is in its initial test stages. Knowledge about the contents of substances purchased, and conversations between syringe services program participants and staff, have the potential to facilitate informed decisions to decrease overdose risks through engagement in harm reduction strategies. Through analysis of newly implemented drug checking services, we noted participant characteristics and dissonance between participants’ reports of the trace drug specimens submitted for testing and the actual drugs and adulterants detected by mass spectrometer results, which has implications for overdose risk, highlighting opportunities for harm reduction responses.

Rapid Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease from Sebum using Paper Spray Ionisation Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Depanjan Sarkar ◽  
Drupad Trivedi ◽  
Eleanor Sinclair ◽  
Sze Hway Lim ◽  
Caitlin Walton-Doyle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Ion Mobility ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Paper Spray ◽  
Molecular Features ◽  
Validation Set

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder for which identification of robust biomarkers to complement clinical PD diagnosis would accelerate treatment options and help to stratify disease progression. Here we demonstrate the use of paper spray ionisation coupled with ion mobility mass spectrometry (PSI IM-MS) to determine diagnostic molecular features of PD in sebum. PSI IM-MS was performed directly from skin swabs, collected from 34 people with PD and 30 matched control subjects as a training set and a further 91 samples from 5 different collection sites as a validation set. PSI IM-MS elucidates ~ 4200 features from each individual and we report two classes of lipids (namely phosphatidylcholine and cardiolipin) that differ significantly in the sebum of people with PD. Putative metabolite annotations are obtained using tandem mass spectrometry experiments combined with accurate mass measurements. Sample preparation and PSI IM-MS analysis and diagnosis can be performed ~5 minutes per sample offering a new route to for rapid and inexpensive confirmatory diagnosis of this disease.

scholarly journals Rapid Distinction and Semiquantitative Analysis of THC and CBD by Silver-Impregnated Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Huang ◽  
Frank W. Claassen ◽  
Teris A. van Beek ◽  
Bo Chen ◽  
Jianguo Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Semiquantitative Analysis ◽  
Paper Spray

High-throughput determination of flavanone-O-glycosides in citrus beverages by paper spray tandem mass spectrometry

2021 ◽  
pp. 130060
Author(s):  
Fabio Mazzotti ◽  
Lucia Bartella ◽  
Ines Rosita Talarico ◽  
Anna Napoli ◽  
Leonardo Di Donna
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Tandem Mass Spectrometry ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Tandem Mass ◽  
Paper Spray

scholarly journals Simultaneous quantitation of five triazole anti-fungal agents by paper spray-mass spectrometry

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 836-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine L. Skaggs ◽  
Greta J. Ren ◽  
El Taher M. Elgierari ◽  
Lillian R. Sturmer ◽  
Run Z. Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Limit Of Quantification ◽  
Paper Spray ◽  
Calibration Curves ◽  
Drug Concentrations ◽  
Limit Of Quantitation ◽  
Anti Fungal

AbstractBackgroundInvasive fungal disease is a life-threatening condition that can be challenging to treat due to pathogen resistance, drug toxicity, and therapeutic failure secondary to suboptimal drug concentrations. Frequent therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is required for some anti-fungal agents to overcome these issues. Unfortunately, TDM at the institutional level is difficult, and samples are often sent to a commercial reference laboratory for analysis. To address this gap, the first paper spray-mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous quantitation of five triazoles was developed.MethodsCalibration curves for fluconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole, hydroxyitraconazole, and voriconazole were created utilizing plasma-based calibrants and four stable isotopic internal standards. No sample preparation was needed. Plasma samples were spotted on a paper substrate in pre-manufactured plastic cartridges, and the dried plasma spots were analyzed directly utilizing paper spray-mass spectrometry (paper spray MS/MS). All experiments were performed on a Thermo Scientific TSQ Vantage triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.ResultsThe calibration curves for the five anti-fungal agents showed good linearity (R2 = 0.98–1.00). The measured assay ranges (lower limit of quantification [LLOQ]–upper limit of quantitation [ULOQ]) for fluconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole, hydroxyitraconazole, and voriconazole were 0.5–50 μg/mL, 0.1–10 μg/mL, 0.1–10 μg/mL, 0.1–10 μg/mL, and 0.1–10 μg/mL, respectively. The inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision were less than 25% over the respective ranges.ConclusionsWe developed the first rapid paper spray-MS/MS assay for simultaneous quantitation of five triazole anti-fungal agents in plasma. The method may be a powerful tool for near-point-of-care TDM aimed at improving patient care by reducing the turnaround time and for use in clinical research.

scholarly journals Paper spray mass spectrometry – A potential complementary technique for the detection of polar compounds in sports drug testing

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1658-1665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Görgens ◽  
Katherine Walker ◽  
Cornelia Boeser ◽  
Neloni Wijeratne ◽  
Claudia Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Drug Testing ◽  
Polar Compounds ◽  
Paper Spray ◽  
Complementary Technique ◽  
Sports Drug Testing
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