Modification of a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method targeting lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and its primary metabolite (OH‐LSD) to include nine LSD analogs

Jun 28, 2024Journal of forensic sciences

Improving a method to measure LSD, its main breakdown product, and nine related compounds

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Abstract

A validated method achieved a 0.1 ng/mL limit of detection for LSD and its analogs in urine samples.

The method successfully extracted LSD, its primary metabolite (OH-LSD), and nine LSD analogs from urine.
No LSD analogs were detected in the analysis of 325 urine specimens.
Automated sample preparation was shown to enable efficient analysis of analytically challenging compounds.
Modifications to the liquid chromatography conditions did not increase analytical time.
The method may facilitate future detection as new reference standards become available.

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A variety of LSD analogs have emerged in recent years with dual purposes of avoiding prosecution from possession while providing new options for those willing to experiment with hallucinogenic drugs. In this study, a previously published automated sample preparation method for LSD and its primary metabolite (OH-LSD) was utilized to extract LSD, OH-LSD, and nine LSD analogs from urine. The liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was modified from the previously published LC conditions to utilize a different analytical column and gradient elution program. Mobile phases of 10 mM ammonium formate with 0.1% formic acid in deionized water (mobile phase A) and 0.1% formic acid in methanol (mobile phase B) were employed. The method was validated to ANSI/ASB Standard 036 with a 0.1 ng/mL limit of detection for all analytes and was utilized for the analysis of 325 urine specimens. Although no LSD analogs were observed in the samples analyzed, this validated method was demonstrated to be suitable for the analysis of these compounds in laboratories seeking to expand their testing scope. Automated sample preparation allows for the efficient analysis of these analytically challenging compounds with minimal manual handling. Additionally, there was no increased analytical time burden when the LC column and gradient were modified to target nine additional analytes. Detection may improve as new reference standards are developed to allow laboratories to focus on the metabolic products of these analogs. For now, this validated procedure can assist with the routine analysis and surveillance of these emerging substances.

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Modification of a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method targeting lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and its primary metabolite (OH‐LSD) to include nine LSD analogs

Abstract

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