Direct drug analysis from oral fluid using medical swab touch spray mass spectrometry

• Direct oral fluid analysis for drug investigation at point-of-care.
• Deployment of medical swabs as sampling device and means of MS ionization.
• Qualitative detection of traditional drugs of abuse at the ng mL−1 level.
• MS3 sequential product scans to confirm drug identification.

Fourteen common drugs of abuse were identified in spiked oral fluid (ng mL−1 levels), analyzed directly from medical swabs using touch spray mass spectrometry (TS-MS), exemplifying a rapid test for drug detection. Multiple stages of mass analysis (MS2 and MS3) provided identification and detection limits sought by international forensic and toxicological societies, Δ9-THC and buprenorphine excluded. The measurements were made using a medical swab as both the sampling probe and means of ionization. The adaptation of medical swabs for TS-MS analysis allows non-invasive and direct sampling of neat oral fluid. Data acquisition was rapid, seconds per drug, and MS3 ensured reliable identification of illicit drugs. The reported data were acquired to investigate (i) ionization of common drugs from commercial swabs, (ii) ion intensity over spray duration, and (iii) dynamic range, all as initial steps in development of a quantitative method. The approach outlined is intended for point-of-care drug testing using oral fluid in clinical applications as well as in situ settings, viz. in forensic applications. The proof-of-concept results presented will require extension to other controlled substances and refinement in analytical procedures to meet clinical/legal requirements.

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