To learn more, see the featured Application Note inside

The fast track to confirmatory illicit drug screening.

Winter 2011

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Quantitative LC-MS Screening for Illicit Drugs Using Ultrahigh Resolution Mass Analysis and Accurate Mass Confirmation

Methods

Ultra-high resolution LC-MS provideseasy confirmatory and quantitativeanalysis of 46 illicit drugs at LOQs of 0.5 – 5 ng/mL in urine for forensic toxicology. Urine samples require onlydilution with solvent to achieve thislevel of performance.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

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Screening Drugs and Toxic Compounds withLC-MS/MS: An Alternative to LC-UV forResearch Toxicology Labs

UHPLC-MS combined with linear ion trap mass spectrometry leads to the quick, confident identification of toxic compounds and calculated concentrations within 150 serum and urine samples – offering a low-cost solution for research toxicology labs.

Screening and Quantification of MultipleDrugs in Urine Using Automated OnlineSample Preparation and TandemMass Spectrometry

Using TurboFlow™ technology to simplify sample preparation and improve robustness and sensitivity, a 9-minute LC-MS/MS analysis provides quantitation of 30 drugs in human urine with an LOQ of 1-50 ng/mL.

How can labs achieve a smooth transition andhigher productivity when implementing LC/MS?

Introduction of liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry(LC-MS) in the clinical research and forensic toxicology laboratories hasrevolutionized testing technology, improved accuracy and increasedproductivity. Many clinical research and forensic toxicology laboratoriesare converting their immunoassay and GC-MS methods to LC-MS for

higher productivity. Before introducing LC-MS, laboratories must understand thetechnology and its limitations. LC-MS methods are Laboratory Developed Tests underthe Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1988 (CLIA). Under CLIA, thelaboratory needs to validate the LC-MS methods, unless they are for research use only.

Laboratories should seek the expertise of LC-MS instrument manufacturers to obtain adequate training. Published methods and application notes are also valuable resourcesfor method development. The published methods and application notes, however, areonly a guide for method development. Special consideration should be given to the sample preparation method and automation. The same method may be applied usingSPE, LLE or automated online sample preparation using techniques like TurboFlow tech-nology. While automated online sample preparation solutions may be capital intensive,in the long run they are generally cost effective - depending on sample throughput, number of tests run on the same system and manpower availability. Considerationshould also be given to current and future throughput. The MS system is a capital intensive investment, so it’s important to note that maximum usage of the system can beachieved by implementing multiplexed solutions. This offers the benefit of automationand allows for the same or multiple methods to be run on the same MS system with littleor no idle time for the MS. Once the clinical research or forensic toxicology laboratorieshave completed training and validation, the LC-MS methods are as routine as the immunoassay and GC-MS methods they replaced.

M.P. George Director of Operations, Alere Toxicology

Q

pAsk the Expert

A

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pUpcomingEventsAmerican Academy of ForensicSciences (AAFS)Chicago, IllinoisFebruary 21 – 26, 2011

pResources

Access these resources using our link-enabled PDF newsletter at www.thermoscientific.com/clinicallycurrent

To check your answers, visit www.thermoscientific.com/clinicallycurrent

Webinar: Anti-doping Screening by HighThroughput Turbulent-Flow LC-MS/MSby Scott Stanley, Ph.D.

Webinar: The Application of LC-MS/MS in Forensic Toxicology for the Growing Demand for Analysis of Pain MedicationUsage by Bridgit Crews, Ph.D.

Webinar: Fully Automated Methods forSerum Analyses in TDM and Toxicology by William Clarke, Ph.D.

Webinar: Orbitrap Technology: A Universal Tool in Clinical Research by Uwe Christians, M.D., Ph.D.

p Just for FunSports Doping History Match Column A with Column B

A ScreeningFirst Testing for Anabolic Steroids

First Full-Scale Testing for Narcotics and Stimulants

First Athlete Disqualified for Doping Violation

B Event1968 Olympic Games (Mexico City)

1972 Olympic Games (Munich)

1976 Olympic Games (Montreal)

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PITTCONAtlanta, GeorgiaMarch 13 – 18, 2011

ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied TopicsDenver, ColoradoJune 5 – 9, 2011

SFTA, STC, SoHT, TIAFT, IATDMCTChamonix, FranceMarch 21 – 26, 2011