Quantitative Analysis of Desomorphine in Blood and Urine Using Solid Phase Extraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

• NCJ Number: 254105
• Journal: Journal of Chromatography B-Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences Volume: 1106 - 1107 Dated: February 2019 Pages: 43-49
• Author(s): Jessica Winborn; Sarah Kerrigan
• Date Published: February 2019
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2015-R2-CX-0031
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Metabolism and Analysis of Desomorphine

Annotation

Since the lack of confirmed desomorphine reports may be in part due to the limited published analytical methodology capable of detecting desomorphine at forensically relevant concentrations, the goal of this study was to assist with identification efforts by developing and validating a robust analytical method.

Abstract

Desomorphine, a semi-synthetic opioid, is a component of the street drug Krokodil. Despite continued reports of Krokodil use, confirmation via toxicological testing remains scarce. In the current project, Solid phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to determine desomorphine in blood and urine, using a deuterated analog as the internal standard. Data were acquired using selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Extraction efficiencies in blood and urine were 69 percent and 90 percent, respectively. The limits of quantitation in blood and urine were 5 ng/mL and 8 ng/mL, ten-fold lower than previously published methods. Intra- and inter-assay CVs were 2-4 percent (n=3) and 3-7 percent (n 15), respectively. The method was fully validated in accordance with published guidelines for forensic use, and it provides a means for identifying desomorphine in toxicology specimens at forensically relevant concentrations, without the need for derivatization. (publisher abstract modified)