Received on May 30, 2006
Accepted on November 3, 2006

Automation and Analytical Techniques

Drug Screening of Preserved Oral Fluid by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Elisabeth Leere iestad ^1*, Unni Johansen ¹, Solberg Christophersen ¹

¹ Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Abuse, Oslo, Norway

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: elisabeth.oiestad{at}fhi.no.

Background: Oral fluid is an alternative matrix with potential applications in road-side drug screening, work-place testing, drug treatment programs, and epidemiological surveys. Development of methods for extensive drug screening in oral fluid is warranted.

Methods: We developed a liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for drug screening of preserved oral fluid collected with the Intercept^® collection device. Samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction with ethylacetate/heptane (4:1). LC-separation was achieved with an Atlantis dC18-column (2.1 x 50 mm, 3 µm particle). Mass detection was performed by positive ion mode electrospray LC-MS/MS and included the following drugs/metabolites: morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, codeine, buprenorphine, methadone, amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, -9-tetrahydrocannabinol, lysergic acid diethylamide, alprazolam, bromazepam, clonazepam, 7-aminoclonazepam, diazepam, N-desmethyldiazepam, 3-OH-diazepam, fenazepam, flunitrazepam, 7-aminoflunitrazepam, lorazepam, nitrazepam, 7-aminonitrazepam, oxazepam, zopiclone, zolpidem, carisoprodol, and meprobamat.

Results: Screening of 32 drugs was performed with a run time of 14 min. Within- and between-day relative CVs varied from 2.0% to 31.8% and from 3.6% to 39.1%, respectively. Extraction recoveries were >50% except for morphine (30%) and benzoylecgonine (0.2%). The concentrations of the lowest calibrator were 1 nmol/L (0.28 µg/L) to 500 nmol/L (68 µg/L), depending on the drug.

Conclusion: The method allowed rapid and sensitive oral fluid screening for the most commonly abused drugs in Norway and will be used for a road-side survey of drug use in normal traffic.