One-Step Derivatization-Extraction Method for Rapid Analysis of Eleven Amphetamines and Cathinones in Oral Fluid by GC-MS.

A simple analytical method was developed for in-matrix derivatization of 11 amphetamine-like molecules. Ethyl chloroformate as the derivatization reagent and ethyl acetate as the extraction solvent were added directly to oral fluid samples at alkaline pH. Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ions monitored for quantification were m/z 44, 91 and 116 for amphetamine (AMP); m/z 58, 91 and 130 for methamphetamine (MA); m/z 44, 105 and 116 for 4-methylamphetamine; m/z 44, 116 and 251 for 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; m/z 58, 130 and 265 for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); m/z 72, 116 and 144 for 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine; m/z 44, 105 and 116 for cathinone; m/z 58, 105 and 130 for methcathinone; m/z 58, 119 and 130 for mephedrone; m/z 58, 107 and 130 for ephedrine (EPH); m/z 207, 250 and 322 for fenethylline; m/z 48, 92 and 120 for AMP-D5; m/z 62, 92 and 134 for MA-D5; m/z 48, 120 and 256 for MDA-D5; and m/z 62, 134 and 270 for MDMA-D5. The underlined ions were used as quantifier ions. Calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 2.5-1,000 ng/mL for all analytes except for EPH, which was linear within 5-1,000 ng/mL. Precision and accuracy were less than 12.9% (relative standard deviation) and ±12.8% (bias), respectively, for all analytes. The method was tested in the analysis of oral fluid specimens collected from users.