Determination of Illicit Drug Residues
Method Application:
Samples collected for the analysis of illicit drugs are commonly collected using a wipe technique. Samples should be obtained from areas representative of the materials or surfaces being tested, 100 cm2. These samples should be obtained, preserved, and handled in accordance with industry standards. For the State of Arizona refer to www.btr.state.az.us/regulations/drug_lab.asp for the types of samples and analytical testing to be conducted and maintained under chain-of-custody protocol. Whatman 40 ashless filter paper or equivalent should be used for all wipe sampling. For other states please check your local regulations. The state links may be found in the following EPA document www.epa.gov/oem/meth_lab_guidelines.pdf. The determination of illicit drugs includes the following sampling constituents and reporting limits:
| Analyte | Wipe Reporting
Limit (ug/100 cm2) |
|---|---|
| Methamphetamine | 0.05 |
| Pseudoephedrine/Ephedrine | 0.05 |
| Ecstasy | 0.05 |
| LSD | 0.05 |
An aliquot of the extract is injected into an HPLC instrument. Compounds in the HPLC effluent are detected by Ion Trap Tandem Mass Spectrometer (IT-MSMS). Electrospray Ionization (ESI) is used for detection and quantitation of ppb levels of illicit drugs, including Methamphetamine, Pseudoephedrine, Ecstasy, and LSD in wipe samples.
Market Application:
After removal of illicit laboratory equipment and chemicals from a clandestine drug-manufacturing site, residual amounts of some substances may persist on the building surfaces, furnishings and household items. Substances, formerly present in active lab environments, such as gases or volatile solvents, may dissipate rapidly with ventilation. However, non-volatile materials such as drug residues, other solids, or water-based solutions of non-volatile materials may persist on the surfaces and require clean up. The potential health effects of exposure to methamphetamine contaminants vary depending on the specific chemicals the person is exposed to, the concentrations of the chemicals, the length of exposure and the health of the person exposed. The health risks associated with exposure to methamphetamine contaminants include respiratory problems, skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
Advantages:
Using a LC-MS/MS method provides the ability for low detection limits, along with identifying compounds based on their mass spectrum.
