SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists

FI8
A RAPID LCIMS METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF
METHAMPHETAMINEIDIMETHYLAMPHETAMINE AND THEIR METABOLITES IN URINE ­
A STUDY OFTHE CURRENT SITUATION IN HONG KONG
WC Cheng*, Vincent KK MOK, Forensic Science Division, Government Laboratory, Homantin
Government Offices, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
Methamphetamine (MA) abuse, both in high purity "Ice" form or in tablets, continues to be one the popular
drugs of abuse found in Hong Kong. Recently, some of drug seizures in crystalline or tablets received by our
laboratory were found to contain N,N-dimethylamphetamine (DMA), a MA analog. The crystalline samples
with DMA found were either in its pure form or mixed with MA. For tablets containing DMA, they were
physically similar to those Ecstasy tablets, and the compositions were complex and usually mixed with MA,
MDMA, ketamine and/or other drugs. As it is difficult to distinguish physically between DMA and MA,
DMA can be mistakenly sold as MA.
lt has been reported that DMA, N,N-dimethylamphetamine N-oxide (DMANO), MA, and amphetamine (A)
were excreted in human urine after administration of DMA. As DMANO, one of the main and specific
metabolite ofDMA, is thermally labile; the use of LCIMS would allow the simultaneous detection ofall four
analytes without derivatization possible. In order to have a clear picture of the current state of MAIDMA
abuse in Hong Kong, a rapid and sensitive LCIMS method has been successfully developed for the
urinalysis of suspected drug abusers under the drug use surveillance program. LC/MS analysis was
performed on a Finnigan Surveyor LC connected to a Finnigan LCQ Advantage ion trap mass spectrometer.
Using solid phase extraction of urine with Alltech CI8 columns followed by LCIMS analysis fitted with an
Alltech Rocket Platinum EPS C-18 column and using a mobile phase (O.OIM ammonium formate (pH=3):
acetonitrile =77:23) at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min, the simultaneous identification and quantitation of MA,
DMA and their metabolites could be achieved within 5 min. Based on the urinalysis results, an overview of
current MAIDMA abuse will be described.
Keywords: N,N-dimethylamphetamine, LCIMS, urinalysis
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