rabbit plasma, unfiltered K2-EDTA spiked with Spice cannabinoids (5 ng/mL each)
HybridSPE-Phospholipid, 96-well plate, 50 mg bed wt., 2 mL well vol (575656-U)
to each well add 100 μL plasma, followed by a 300 μL of 1% formic acid in acetonitrile, agitate on orbital shaker for 2 minutes
attach collection plate and apply vacuum at 10” Hg for 4 minutes
Ascentis Express F5, 5 cm x 2.1 mm I.D., 2.7 μm particles (53567-U)
[A] 10 mM ammonium formate in water, pH 6.8 (unadjusted); [B] acetonitrile; (50:50; A:B)
0.3 mL/min
1296 psi (89 bar)
35 °C
MS, ESI(+), MRM, m/z 344/155 (JWH-073 metabolite), 385/155 (JWH-200), 336/121 (JWH-250), 328/155 (JWH-073), and 342/155 (JWH-018)
2 μL
Synthetic cannabinoids (Spice) are a relatively new type of designer drug used as a pseudo-legal means to get a cannabis-type high. New synthetic cannabinoids are continually being introduced as suppliers tweak the molecular structures. The ability to rapidly and reliably identify the continually changing population of these compounds in the blood or urine suspected users is a significant analytical challenge facing forensic chemists. A four prong approach using column selectivity, high purity solvents, effective sample prep, and reference standards, was used to develop a method to rapidly isolate and identify Spice cannabinoids from plasma. The Ascentis Express F5 column gave the necessary resolution, and the highest grade LC-MS solvents and additives gave adduct-free response for maximum sensitivity. Sample prep employing the HybridSPE-Phospholipid was rapid and effective and the Cerilliant reference standards enabled confident identification.
Ascentis is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
HybridSPE is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany